“Get it done by any means possible."
All four of Virginia’s losses have been the result of 80th minute or later breakthroughs by their opponents.
After a lengthy homestand to kick off the season, Virginia men's soccer finds itself in a shaky position with a 3-3-1 record. Three writers assess where the team is now and what is of note in the future.
Lessons learned from a summer in the ravenous soccer town of Burlington, Vt. might be just what Virginia soccer's finest needed to help the team overcome an early-season slump.
“It’s progress,” Virginia Coach George Gelnovatch said.
“You know you’re good enough,” Burns wrote. “Do what you do, baby.”
Despite being off to a rough start, there are still plenty of things that make this Virginia squad both a candidate for redemption and an interesting watch.
Little did Virginia know a 53-minute rain delay wouldn't be the most unusual part of the evening.
After consecutive losses to open the season, Virginia got back on track both offensively and defensively.
“Sebastian Pop never makes that mistake,” Gelnovatch said. “Never makes that mistake. Never makes that mistake."
Despite the disappointing result for the Cavaliers, Coach George Gelnovatch believes there is plenty to take away from a matchup against a formidable opponent in the middle of August.
“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.”
