Last year's No. 1 recruit making big impact in first year.
 You’ve probably heard of him by now, but how much do you actually know
about Virginia’s stud first-year soccer player Jonathan Villanueva? The
midfielder hails from Grand Prairie, Texas, and brings with him the
experience of playing on the United States Under-18 international team.
He was also the top recruit in the country.
Villanueva’s level of play is loud enough to allow for a very big ego. Yet, he doesn’t have one. He maintains a very humble attitude.
When asked about his experience of being the number one recruit, Villanueva said, “It was a big shock to me actually because I know so many great players all over the country. So for me to be the ‘number one recruit’ is kind of opinionated but I’m happy to have the title.”
It seems everyone around him has a lot of respect for not only the skill he brings, but also the person he is. “Jonny is a really good young player,”
“Jonny is a really good young player,” 
Jeremy Barlow said. “He’s coming in and really making a big impact on the team. He’s obviously really skilled and he’s helping us out a lot. He’s a good kid too.”
It means a lot when a teammate mentions his demeanor in the same breath as his soccer skills. Already, the man they have dubbed “Villa” is getting noticed by opposing teams. Against BC, Villa was swarmed by defenders physically larger than him every time he got a touch. However, this did not deter the young star as he systematically delivered crisp passes and, when given the opportunity, struck the ball well several times on goal.
Villanueva’s defensive techniques draw as much praise as his nimbleness with the ball. He slide tackles defenders almost on instinct and rarely falls out of good position. This young prospect is unique in that he has no apparent weaknesses; he has the respect of players, coaches, and the fans.
Villanueva chose a good year to join the historically dominant (5 national titles) Cavaliers who have climbed to a #2 ranking through 7 games this season. “Its been a dream come true kind of, when I came here I knew we had a good team but to be 7-0, to be the number two team in the country, it’s just beyond all my expectations”, said Villanueva.
The budding superstar has had to transition to a higher level of play.
“It’s been a good one so far for me, it’s quicker, it’s a lot more physical, but overall it’s been a great experience and I think its going to help me in the long run” Villanueva said. He also cited that the team provided a great support system for his transition to college in general.
The title of top recruit in the country comes at a price, and Villanueva knows that other teams may gun for him a little bit.
“I guess me having a little bit of a name kind of put the target on my back. So I just try to accept it and play through it as much as possible.” Virginia soccer has a bright future as long as Villanueva is around. “He’s been doing great and he can only get better”, goalkeeper Ryan Burke said.
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