Nothing Cavalier about this Virginia lost to William & Mary Wednesday night 1-0, with PDL all-star Carlos Garcia getting the lone goal. For those not paying attention, this is UVa's fourth straight loss (dropping them to 3-4) and going back to last year, their 6th loss in their last 9 games. I'm a UVa guy and I started following the Cavs when I got to C-ville and a guy on my hall was on the soccer team. This is the worst stretch of soccer for a UVa men's team since 1980. That year, the Cavs went 8-9-1 (the only losing season in Bruce Arena's tenure) and had a 5-game losing streak in the middle of the season. They haven't lost more than three in a row since then. In fact, to put this 4-game losing streak into perspective, since that losing season, the Cavaliers have had 3 seasons (1985, 1997, 98) when they only lost 4 games all year. More amazingly, since 1980, they've had 13 seasons when they lost less than 4 games: 1982, 1984, 1986-89, 1991-96 and 2001. In C-ville, losing more than 4 games in a season is rare. Losing 4 in a row, at least since Ronald Reagan became president, was unheard of. Till now. I haven't seen UVa play this year so I don't know what the problems are. Obviously Kyle Martino was a big loss and tough to replace. ANd, the losses have been to some good to very good teams. But this team has a lot of talent, certainly too much to have a losing record. I know the season isn't over and the Cavs will likely right the ship (they have NC State up next, though UVa does have the distinction of being the last ACC win for the pathetic Wolfpack, back in 1998) and still finish the year with more wins and losses. But, this is as bad a run as we've seen from UVa soccer in 22 years.
Pathetic You're right Sandon--this is pathetic. I can't say the W&M loss was a big surprise though. (Even though W&M is not having the greatest of year themselves.) What George has yet to learn is that resumes don't win championships. I'm telling you--if it isn't a national team event you'll never see Gelnovatch or Reynolds on the sideline looking for prospects. The both of them drive to Raleigh to see the U-18 Nats play NC State, but you won't see them on the sidelines at the CASL Shootout or at any major youth tournament (okay maybe Disney, but the Nats are playing there). If UVA wants to get back in the college game they need to size up (considerably), and bring in some blue-collar players that take-no-prisoners. I remember hearing Gelnovatch talk about taking the 18s to Portugal a couple of years back and having it handed to them. He went on and on about the size of the Irish team. He obviously didn't learn a thing from that butt-kicking. (The score was only 1-0. I'm mostly talking about the way he described the game.)
you guys are bit rash/reactive aren't you? ...for UVA to get back into the college game? it sounds as if the program is going to hell in a bucket. it was only last year that they were by far the best team in the nation. i saw them play unc and it was as if a pro team was taking on a high school team. Even though they lost in the tourney, it was a great year that brought to its fans the most entertaining soccer (nearly every game) at the college level the game perhaps has seen in over a decade (or ever- i have 25 years exp watching ncaa games-hardly all encompassing, but a decent sampling- 100s of games). replacing martino might be the toughest thing in the world and two newcomers cannot expect to fill the void immediately. i have also been more than dissappointed at their level of play this year, but there are many things you neglect to consider when comparing last year's team and this years. last year the team was able to train for almost a month before the season starts (ncaa rules allow this every four years i believe)- the team went to europe and came into the season in top form. this year they had less than two weeks. i am hoping that things start to gel and we fans are again fortunate to witness some great soccer. I could care less if they win the rest of their games or the tourney- as a fan, i am more interested in seeing high quality, entertaining soccer. although winning means more games to watch in the post season- so i am hoping that we peak late and qualify for the tourney. with the talent they have, i am confident the season is not a wash. i also don't think any coach in the NCAA would belittle the UVA's coaching staff's choice of recruits. cheers
Re: Nothing Cavalier about this Gee I wish I could offer my condolences Sandon but to be perfectly candid I'm thrilled with the UVA losing streak! I really am! I hope they lose every single game they play for the rest of their existence! I suppose my feelings of giddiness when UVA lose are due to UVA knocking out SLU in the 1991 Semi-Final game in the final minutes of a thriller. Ever since then I have really rooted against UVA and Bruce Arena. Then in 1997 UVA again knocks off my beloved Billikens in the National Semi-Final. Now don't get me wrong I have greatly admired the Cav program and their run of excellence however it is possible to have admiration for teams you love to see lose. Am I correct?
And how did they look against Seton Hall? I hate to think what a Manny Shellscheidt could do with the talent of a UVA. We're still waiting for George to show us he can coach.
They have nothing to show for last season. Didn't win the ACC Crown and lost in the first round of the NCAA's. I personally don't think the best team won it last year, but I also don't think that UVA was the best team by far. There is more to being a good team than getting the best recruits.
that is a fairly sad indicator of something or nothing. two crowns dictate how successful a season is? i watched almost every UVA home game; as fans we were treated to very entertaining soccer almost every time out. you cannot say so much about most of the mls or a-league week in and out (of course this is all in my experience, as small as it may be). As I am sure most will agree, there is so much more to soccer than "winning and losing". The "result" is the smallest parts of the game (IMHO). the beautiful game, anyway. Many will say the result is the best or biggest part- too bad for them . As for last year, yes the seton hall game was baffling after a great season. burn out most likely. hardly bad coaching. that team played like a well oiled machine most of the season.
Personally I think SLU was the best in the NCAA last year followed closely by Stanford. As we know the bets team does not always win and that is especially true in collegiate soccer.
Last year was awesome (minus the Seton Hall game). Saturday night UVA returns to Klockner against NC State and better win...
Good point. I think maybe there's a lot more parity in D1 than some people would like to admit. Just ask Rennie over at Duke. There's a program that's on the brink of "average" under the most optimistic of scenarios. Day was when UVA could recruit both the top star players AND the top role players. Now UVA has to stand in line for the star players, and solid role players are just as likely to go to a competing ACC school or other top 25 program elsewhere.
I agree that there is so much more to the game than the result, but in the end the reason the season is played is to a champion can be determined. In professional leagues, a players worth is sometimes said to be in the number of trophies his side wins while he is playing. Platini was a special player, but Zidane will always be considered greater because he has won two trophies with France. Virginia played great ball last year but were stunned by a lesser opponent. The fact that the lesser opponent could come in and steal that match from a much better UVa team is exactly what makes the game so great.
Having seen UVA only once this year (against UNC), I was unimpressed. I've been following ACC soccer closely for more than 10 years, and this UVA team doesn't play anything like the Virginia team of years past. Against Carolina, Virginia had very little possession, and literally played long ball the entire match. Their movement off the ball was almost non existent, except for Eskandarian and Freeman. They really do miss Martino, that's for sure...but they also seem to be lacking patience and defensive shape. When UNC countered, UVA's shape was not good, which resulted in Kneipper's goal. These guys didn't play as a team, rather as individuals out there. Have to agree wholeheartedly with K1v1n about their recruiting, too.
After watching the UVA-UNC game I agree with LuvDaBears assessment. This team is not playing with any cohesiveness. UVa has been known for years as playing quality ball, controlling possession and attacking with skill and flair, not just flinging the ball upfield. Unfortunately that's exactly what they did against Carolina. Except for a few lapses UVa controlled their end defensively and moved the ball through midfield, but once they got into the UNC third it was throw the ball up and hope for something. Eskandarian was not really that impressive. He ran, but did little to make dangerous plays and UNC's #2 really got under his skin and took him out of his game. This is definitely not a UVa team from on old. PatK
The first two games I saw I was unimpressed. I've been going to every home game for 4 years now, and in that time I haven't seen them play with as little "flow" as they have now. Sure, they have good recruits, they have good players, they have a good coach. But they're not working as a team right now, they haven't reached the point where they're all communicating properly on the field and are able to get the ball forward effectively. Hopefully, they'll start to come together VERY soon. Like tomorrow nite.
Since this post I believe the Cavs have gone 3W 0L. Tonight it was Hartwick with 5-0 - third consecutive shutout. Of more interest, Eskandarian scores another 2 goals - 14 for the season. The question is, barring injury, does his performance make the Hermann Trophy race a foregone conclusion? Does it make DC United's number one overall draft pick obvious, assuming AE comes out early? Does AE ignore MLS and try landing overseas?
John, it's good to see you on the amateur boards. Now if you start giving us UVA practice reports, I'll really be impressed. My take on Alecko is that he will struggle at the next level. He can be marked out of the game and gets frustrated much too easily with a penchant for flamboyent displays of petulence and stupid fouls. At best I see a mini Precki as his future. I see little reason to be optimistic about Ray's drafting abilities, given last year's foibles, but you have much more insight as to what may happen there than most of the rest of us. John