On a cool night in Charlottesville, the Virginia men's soccer team heated up Klockner Stadium with a 4-0 shutout of ACC foe N.C. State. The victory marked the first shutout of the season and the first conference win for the Cavaliers, as well as the end of the team's four-game losing streak.
Virginia (4-4, 1-2 ACC) dominated the Wolfpack (2-6, 0-3) with a relentless offensive attack, outshooting the visitors 21-9 behind the strong play of forward Alecko Eskandarian. Eskandarian netted the Cavaliers' first two goals of the night, connecting on teammate Rob Wright's deflected attempt in the 23rd minute and on Jacob LeBlanc's cross in the 35th minute. The junior said his early scoring explosion was fueled by a desire to lift the team from its losing ways.
"I was frustrated after the last four games," Eskandarian said. "After the last loss, I just sat silent on the bus, looking out the window. I didn't talk to anyone or answer my cell phone. I was sick of meetings [to try and solve the problem]. You can talk all you want, but the bottom line is that you have to step on the field and play together, and that is what we did tonight."
The determination to record a win in the face of adversity was evident in each of the Virginia players, but none more than Wright. Wright felt the duty of senior leadership calling, and the need to make an impact on the field for the Cavaliers.
"I went in [Coach George Gelnovatch's office] on Friday and basically said, 'I want to turn things around for us,'" Wright said. "This team was in need of a spark."
Convinced, Gelnovatch inserted Wright into the starting lineup, and Wright answered by providing the promised spark. With 37 seconds remaining in the first half, Wright headed an Eskandarian assist past Wolfpack goalkeeper Mitchell Watson to send Virginia to the locker room with a 3-0 lead over N.C. State.
"Rob Wright put his money where is mouth was," Gelnovatch said. "Not only with his goal, but with the intangibles. He stayed positive and showed leadership. He did a fantastic job in all aspects. He was the spirit of our team today."
In spite of the scoreboard, both teams remained intense and physical as second-half play began. Thirteen minutes into the second period, both Eskandarian and Wolfpack defender Kyle Fragakis received yellow cards after tough play escalated to shoving. Cavalier freshman forward Paul Johnson was sent in to replace Eskandarian and recorded his first collegiate assist in the 73rd minute by sending a cross to fellow freshman forward Phillip Long. Long knocked in the pass for his first collegiate goal.
Gelnovatch had high praise for his second half replacements, as well as for his defense in a match where the offense commanded much of the attention.
Midfielder "Ryan Kelly is playing sharper every day, and [goalkeeper] David Comfort had a key save early," Gelnovatch said, attributing additional credit for Virginia's victory to their home field advantage.
Cavalier players also were grateful for the support of the 3,733 fans that crowded Kl
ckner Saturday night.
"We love Kl
ckner," Eskandarian said. "This place is why we all came to play here. It's an awesome atmosphere, we go out and have a lot of fun here."
Free of the pressures that road games bring, Virginia found a way to end their four-game slide. Virginia will return to action at Kl
ckner on Wednesday night, facing the Thundering Herd of Marshall at 7 p.m.
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