“He's got a lot of things going for him,” Gelnovatch said this season.
The men's and women's finales were separated by one measly goal in regulation and penalties. It was a night of déjà vu in Klöckner Stadium. A night of opportunity for Virginia turned into a night to forget.
Simmonds is the first Cavalier to be selected with a top three pick since 2010, and Simmonds and Pelá are the first pair of Virginia teammates to be selected by the same team since 2018.
“I thought that most of the second half, we had them in their half of the field and had full control of the game,” Gelnovatch said.
“He knew exactly what I needed,” Vicente said.
“I don't think the refs are quite sure, even, to be honest. So that's what makes it so tough to do, first of all, just lose a game on a [penalty kick] but lose one that was reviewed for eight minutes.”
Less travel, less games, greater odds.
“The way we reacted in the second half is not easy at this stage,” graduate midfielder Jesus de Vicente said.
“I guess when you're feeling good, things go your way.”
“I couldn’t be happier for my guys — they deserve this moment," Coach George Gelnovatch said.
The 6-foot-4 centerback is studying computer science while pushing his team to new heights.
It has been six years since Virginia’s football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and field hockey programs have been ranked simultaneously.
Beneath the eerie glow of the Scott Stadium lights and within the hallowed walls of John Paul Jones arena, some nights were better left forgotten.
On Senior Day, the freshman forward hijacked the show.
“Philosophy?” Gelnovatch said. “Play a tough schedule. It’s worked for us.”
Reese Miller scored his first goal in more than 13 months.
George Gelnovatch: “To have them both back was unlikely, and you have two guys that are a handful.”
"We need to make more big plays," Coach George Gelnovatch said.
“Really disappointing to give up a goal inside five minutes and not take all three points," Coach George Gelnovatch said. "It feels like a loss.”
Virginia beat its second top-two opponent of the season.
