University of Virginia...National Champions

Why isn't Shawn Barry on the roster? Did he transfer? Turn pro? Quit school?

And where did Matt Turk go?

EDIT: Never mind. It appears Shawn didn't keep his grades up and, in a tradition we know about in our family , has been asked to take a year off from school.

"The bottom line, especially now with Shawn Barry out, is this is going to be a little bit of a -- I don't know if 'rebuilding' is the right word -- but we're going to be trying a little bit to put some pieces together," Gelnovatch, UVa's longtime coach, said the other day. "We do have some pieces, but at the same time, this is going to be a little bit of a rebuilding year."

The Cavaliers, ranked No. 2 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll, will begin practice Tuesday. Gelnovatch knew he'd have to replace several standouts from the team that finished 19-3-3 and beat Akron for the NCAA title, but he expected to have back Barry, a starting defender.

"Shawn was instrumental in helping us win a national championship and an ACC championship, but didn't hold up his obligations from an academic standpoint, and that's plain and simple," Gelnovatch said. "And when you don't do that, you're asked to leave [the University] for a year."

Might Barry return in 2011? "It's possible," Gelnovatch said, "but I know he's keeping some options open, potentially trying to play professionally if a good-enough offer becomes available."​

http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17800&ATCLID=204976278

 

I'll definetly be visiting this thread a ton, looking forward to another great season from the Wahoos.

Here's an awesome link with all the videos from the '09 season that were edited by virginiasports.com. Enjoy and go Hoos!

http://catalog.proemags.com/publication/5d080327#/5d080327/1

 

Maybe it is because of their second tier fans

 

Oooooohhhh, we got buuuuuurned. Man, that one hurt!

(end of sarcasm)

 

Defending Champs pick up where they left off, shutout VCU 1-0 in the first exhibition match of the season.

http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17800&ATCLID=204980772

Hoos take on VMI on Monday for their 2nd exhibition of the '10 season.

 

Agorosor supposedly went pro but no one seems to know where.

No clue about Turk.

But the reality is that UVa lost a lot from last year's team, especially in the midfield, and that's gonna be tough to make up.

I won't be surprised if this team struggles to score goals, especially early in the year. Granted, they have good forwards, but the service they get might not be the best.

 

Wahoos beat VMI tonight 4-0. Lots of offensive talent on display, good to see Bates getting on the scoresheet.

Here are the highlights from the game:

http://www.virginiasportstv.com/?load=soccermen&v=2926&f=.mov

Check out the finish on the 4th goal by USF transfer Felipe Libreros, simply sick... I swear, you could make an all-star team out of guys that have transferred/left early from South Florida.

 

That is pretty cool,. And good for Alecko, too.

I have no idea if he wants to get into coaching, but having a degree will make coaching in college much easier. With his energy and pedigree, I bet he'd be a great recruiter.

I also liked this quote from Gelnovatch:

"It's great to see in my 15 years a bunch of the guys leave early for the pros and I am slowly checking them off my list of coming back to school and graduating."​

I'm a big advocate of players leaving early if they have a good offer but it's also good to see them come back and finish their degree.

 

^^^ this

good to hear. always liked AE

 

If he keeps scoring goals he can score it however he wants!

 

They really are good goals.

Spann's first goal is just a great shot from outside the box.

But the second goal is off a great cross from Dimas on the left flank that Simpson heads in.

The third goal was a long ball over the top from Murnane that sent Bates in 1-v-1 and he made it look easy.

Spann makes a really nice pass on the 4th goal and Murnane made a smart off the ball run from to get on the end of it and slot it home.

And reserve Marcus Douglas made a nice run and pass that Spann got a boot on for the 5th.

To score this much without and production from Ownby is a good sign. Spann seems like the real deal - too real as he could be one-and-done if he has a good year - and Bates has picked up where he left off last year when he was Freshmen of the Year. If Ownby starts scoring, too, this could be a good offensive team.

Meanwhile, through two games the rebuilt defense has only allowed 5 shots on goal.

Big test this weekend in Durham against a good Duke team. We'll have a much better sense of this team after that game.

 

I care, and you are on the money, UVa looks like a much more improved offensive team. Couple of things for this improvement in my opinion:

Important additions:
* Brian Ownby is a defensive player's nightmare. He's a burner and you have to respect his speed, which opens up passing lanes.

* Cobi Span and Felipe Libreros: GG brought in two guys that are highly technical, who can utilize the space that Ownby is creating and can work on the wings, feeding Will Bates and Jimmy Simpson in the middle.

Subtractions are not hurting as much:
* Tony Tchani, while being an amazing prospect, was very raw when playing for UVa. He often turned the ball over in dangerous situations, and wasn't very committed to tracking back. Plus, last season Tchani was coming back from a serious injury, and took a while to get going. Already in less than a season in NY, you can see that he's progressed night and day from his days at UVa

* Johnny Villanueva, while a very creative and dangerous attacking player, was a defensive liability and took unnecessary risks.

* Neil Barlow was a very solid college midfielder, but not a world beater.

* Ross Labeaux's role apparently has been effectively covered by Jumper.

* Shawn Barry, while being one of the fastest guys that i have ever seen play in real life, struggled mightily with his first touch and crosses. Shawn Murnane is a much more effective crosser of the ball, which works better for UVa's offense as Simpson and Bates are great with their heads.

Defensive core remains intact:
* The triangle of Volk, Monaco in the middle and Restrepo in goal is about as solid as you will see in college soccer. This allows for the team to be able to commit more numbers to the attack

* Volk and Monaco have instilled a toughness that permeates throughout the team. They stayed in Charlottesville during the summer and worked out with the team, and you can see the fitness level for UVa has increased.

* Restrepo continues to evolve and improve as a GK. Word is that DR spent his summer training with pro clubs, both in the states (with MLS teams) and in Europe with 1st division clubs, which for a young GK is invaluable experience. You can tell by his demeanor in goal that his confidence is sky high, and confidence is critical for a GK. Both him and Volk know that this year is the "contract year" so you better believe they are focused on improving this season.

Thoughts?

 

Really nice article in the WaPo about Eskandarian being back at Virginia and his concussion issues.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...9/21/AR2010092103758.html?sid=ST2010092106085

For all our faults with player development in the US, I think it's fair to say we're also the only country where former elite prospects can return to a university - and a prestigious one at that in this case - to earn a degree and put the players on a solid path for post-soccer life.