They just can't wait to get on the road again. After a brief stint at the top -- and a crushing loss to the Nittany Lions -- the Virginia men's soccer team has spent a week at home regrouping, and now is ready for tomorrow night's league opener against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Currently ranked sixth in the nation with an overall record of 3-1, the Cavaliers are eager to face the 16th-ranked Demon Deacons (2-0-1).
"The beginning of league play is something that we all get excited about," Virginia Coach George Gelnovatch said. "It's the best league in the country, and there are a lot of good teams."
Clearly, both Virginia and Wake Forest are among them.
The Cavaliers completely dominated the league last year, and have retained many of their key players from the 2001 season. While they have a host of new players who still are finding their composure on the field and their touch on the ball, they rapidly are becoming a high-quality unit.
Although history favors the Cavaliers
-- in the past 22 years Virginia has dominated Wake Forest 23-2-4 -- the Deacons also are strong and come into tomorrow's matchup with momentum.
Though they were ranked 24th in the preseason, they have quickly ascended to 13th, and have given up only three goals in three games.
It is the issue of goal conversion that will be a key factor for the Cavaliers. Virginia will face Wake Forest without the finesse and confidence that leading scorer junior forward Alecko Eskandarian provides.
During what looked like a comeback run in the Virginia-Penn State game, Eskandarian received his second yellow card and was ejected from the game. That loss left the Cavaliers fumbling against the Nittany Lions, and there may be more fumbling to come, as NCAA regulations demand that Eskandarian sit out one game.
If the Cavaliers can come out strong and keep their focus, they will be well on their way to a win.
"We are not afraid to lose," Gelnovatch said. "But we really need to come out strong in the first half; we need to keep our energy high and be focused right from the start."
While the Cavaliers have proved to themselves that they are more than capable of coming from behind to seize victory, they also recognize the value of the momentum associated with establishing an early lead -- especially after Sunday's reminder that anything can happen.
While the Cavaliers are looking to start league play off with a win, they are keenly aware of the bigger picture. Tomorrow night's game is in the middle of a four-week road stint for Virginia, and they will be looking to ease into yet another transition.
If the Cavaliers can keep their cool in the Deacons' third of the field, they will be on track for a return of winning ways and a positive league record.
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