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It has been almost a decade since the Men’s Soccer Team last made it to the final four in the NCAA Championship. Now, they are looking at the possibility of becoming NCAA Champions.
It has been a record breaking season on the Men’s Soccer Team, for the players and the fans. Everyone has put in their little grain of sand to make it such a good year. When 7,428 fans showed up for the 1-0 upset over number 2 Clemson, they broke the ACC’s season attendance record and helped cheer on the players on such a decisive game. Head coach George Gelnovatch has been a constant encouragement to all the fans through his recognition and statement that “they’ve been great, it’s been unprecedented and what it does for a players and our program is incredible.” Senior goalkeeper Ryan Burke talks about how big of a difference the fans make on the team and how “the fans this year have been far and above the fans any year. They’ve really done a nice job getting together and organizing stuff, and we really feel their impact when we play, so the fans have been amazing.” The support from the head coach and the players has resulted in a single season attendance record of 43,183.
Another record setter has been senior goalkeeper Ryan Burke, who has set a bar that will be tough to surpass by any future Virginia goalkeeper. Setting school records for minutes played on goal, saves, shutouts and games played, Burke’s career will probably go down as one of the most fruitful in Cavalier history. Surpassing him might be an impossible task by any of his successors. Senior forward Adam Cristman has also been a key element in the success of the Cavaliers, with a season high of 12 goals, which include his 3 goals during the Virginia Tech game. Cristman registered the first hat trick for a Cavalier since 2000. The players, especially Cristman, might have been moved by one of the largest attendances from the fans at an away game, being louder than the 2,000 Tech fans. Cristman said, “the fans are amazing…I would say that they help way more than anyone can measure. The atmosphere they create and the ways they inspire and cheer up all the guys on the team is amazing.” Losses on the road are common for any Cavalier team, which is why such an upset was important for this team.
Cristman’s feat was sweet yet short lived, as the Cavaliers lost their first and last home game to Wake Forest. The night that was supposed to be glorious was brought down by the rain, the cold, and a questionable last call.
Nevertheless, the Cavaliers losses have been overshadowed by the remarkable season they have managed to build up. Junior midfielder Nico Colaluca has in this single season surpassed his career high in goals and assists. Sophomore forward Yannick Reyering has maintained his title as the top scorer with 12 goals. Sure enough he will be looking to best his season high of 14 goals during the next game, as well as maintaining his status as the leading goal scorer on the team.
With a solid team and solid season behind them, the Cavaliers will be looking for a win this Saturday afternoon against UCLA. Having beaten them early on in the season will not make it any easier on the Cavaliers—both teams have improved tremendously since their last match. Coach Gelnovatch expressed his happiness on where the team is, “and the fact they are actually getting better in the post season,” allowing a hint as to what to expect for Saturday’s game.
It will be one of the last shots that the seniors have to strut their stuff if they are thinking of going pro next year as many of them are. But it is also an important part for several of our third years who are thinking of moving onto a professional level, as we will see hopefuls like midfielder Nico Colaluca try to reach professional status a year early. The holes these seniors and professional hopefuls leave on the team will be tough to fill, but we still have hope with returning red shirted senior players and our still talented and young roster, which can only get more talented after the experience received with such an amazing season.
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