What did winning the national championship mean for you? It was an awesome feeling as a senior to go out with my boys.
Virginia remained undefeated in its preseason Saturday night as it came from behind on the road to beat George Mason 2-1 for its third straight victory. The Patriots went up 1-0 on a Parker Walton goal in the 29th minute.
In 2009, the Cavaliers left the preseason winless. Saturday evening, they look to complete a perfect run through the 2010 preseason, when they will travel to Fairfax, Va.
Kicking off the new season as the defending national champions, the Cavaliers are now enjoying their highest official expectations since the 2002 season - ranking only behind the Akron Zips, last year's NCAA runner-up. And despite losing several important starters - including Tony Tchani and Neil Barlow, the team's second- and third-most prolific point winners - the Virginia squad seems to share these high expectations. "Defending national champions have a swagger," coach George Gelnovatch said, adding that the team's motivation to play hard has not abated, regardless of the NCAA title to its name.
[caption id="attachment_32433" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Sophomore midfielder Tony Tchani, an integral part of the Cavaliers' national title squad, declared for the Major League Soccer draft and was selected second overall by the New York Red Bulls.
[caption id="attachment_32379" align="alignleft" width="198" caption="Freshman midfielder Will Bates has added a team-high three goals in the tournament for a total of 11 this season.
[caption id="attachment_32314" align="alignleft" width="198" caption="Freshman forward Will Bates has helped orchestrate No.
[caption id="attachment_32229" align="alignleft" width="283" caption="Redshirt freshman midfielder Ari Dimas made sure the first goal of his college career counted Saturday, scoring in the 46th minute to give Virginia a 1-0 win against Portland.
[caption id="attachment_32151" align="alignleft" width="251" caption="Freshman forward Will Bates scored three times during yesterday's matchup against Bucknell.
The No. 6 Virginia men's soccer team defeated No. 20 N.C. State 1-0 to win the ACC Tournament Sunday in Cary, N.C, grabbing the ACC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore defender Hunter Jumper whipped a cross into the box to senior midfielder Jordan Evans, who flicked a header to freshman forward Will Bates.
[caption id="attachment_31878" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Freshman forward Will Bates received second team All-ACC honors and was also named to the All-Freshmen Team.
[caption id="attachment_31741" align="alignleft" width="237" caption="Freshman forward Will Bates has provided the Cavaliers with a much-needed offensive spark, scoring five of the team's last 10 goals.
[caption id="attachment_31621" align="alignleft" width="238" caption="Senior midfielder Jonathan Villanueva gave Virginia a 1-0 lead near the end of the first half with his first goal this season Tuesday night against American.
[caption id="attachment_31578" align="alignleft" width="198" caption="Freshman Will Bates was tabbed the TopDrawerSoccer.com Player of the Week last week after scoring in four straight games for the Cavaliers.
[caption id="attachment_31461" align="alignleft" width="198" caption="Freshman forward Will Bates may be the catalyst behind the Cavaliers' offensive resurgence, scoring five of his team-leading six goals in the past four games.
[caption id="attachment_31368" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Junior goalkeeper Diego Restrepo has recorded six shutouts this season after transferring from South Florida.
[caption id="attachment_31250" align="alignleft" width="271" caption="Freshman forward Will Bates scored one of the Cavaliers' goals against the Eagles Sunday.
[caption id="attachment_31225" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Junior goal keeper Diego Rostrepo has anchored the Cavalier defense, which ranks ninth in the nation in goals against average.
[caption id="attachment_31136" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Freshman forward Will Bates scored the opening goal against Howard in the 16th minute and added an assist to sophomore midfielder Tony Tchani in the 55th minute.
