The Virginia men's soccer team continues its road trip this weekend in Chapel Hill facing ACC rival North Carolina at Fetzer Field. Game time is 7 p.m. on Saturday.
The Cavaliers (3-2) are coming off a two-game losing streak, their longest in over a year. The team most recently lost to Wake Forest last Saturday 2-1. The only Cavalier goal was scored by senior forward Ryan Gibbs.
In the game, goalkeeper David Comfort was injured in the first half, but has practiced this week and should be healthy for the upcoming game. Having Comfort return at full health will boost the Virginia defense.
"We've lost two in a row and its really put our backs against the wall," junior forward Alecko Eskandarian said. "A win would really put us back on track."
Virginia has a slim advantage in the all-time series, leading 29-28-7. However, the Cavaliers have dominated the matchup since 1981, posting a record of24-3-2 against the Tar Heels. UNC has won only one game since 1995, which came in the 2000 ACC Tournament finals. The Tar Heels won the game and the ACC championship, 1-0.
UNC has won two of its last three ACC openers, beating Clemson to begin the season in both 1999 and 2000. The Tar Heels fell to Virginia in last season's opener.
Virginia is ranked No. 19 in the NSCAA coaches poll and No. 9 by Soccer America. North Carolina is No. 22 in NSCAA and 16th in the Soccer America poll.
Eskandarian leads the Virginia offense, having scored seven goals and one assist this season. Eskandarian also scored two game-winning goals this year and was chosen as ACC Co-Player of the week earlier this month. Last season, he posted a team-high nine goals and finished second on the team with 21 points. He also led the team in scoring in 2000.
Redshirt senior forward Rob Wright has scored three goals on four shots. His .750 shooting percentage leads the team.
Joining the forwards is junior forward and midfielder Jacob LeBlanc. He started all 20 games last season, recording two goals and six assists. He believes the team can bounce back from their defeat at Wake Forest.
"Our team is on the right track," LeBlanc said. "Last year we didn't have other teams really capitalize on our mistakes. This year that has been a real problem."
The Cavaliers, coached by George Gelnovatch, hope to return to their winning ways of last year, when they went 17-2-1, 6-0 ACC. Gelnovatch was recognized as ACC Coach of the Year in 2001 and is in his seventh season.
With Gelnovatch at the helm, Eskandarian said he hopes the team can overcome its early-season lapses.
"We really need to focus on teamwork, being together," Eskandarian said. "We've made a lot of mental mistakes, but I think we're really getting it together."
A Cavalier squad with the mental toughness and composure that have been missing at points this season could be the key to Virginia's success.
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