The Virginia men's soccer team seems to be easing into their potential this season, taking a moment to feel out the situation before they pounce.
But have no doubt: they will, indeed, pounce. After a pair of preseason losses, the Cavaliers returned home this weekend to open the regular season with two victories.
Virginia came from behind in each contest to topple the Kentucky Wildcats 3-2 on Friday night, and the Rhode Island Rams 2-1 yesterday afternoon. Yet as their season -- and the play of each game -- continues, the Cavaliers appear to be increasingly comfortable on the field, both as individual players and as a team.
"I think that this weekend showed a few things about us," Virginia Coach George Gelnovatch said. "While we let ourselves get behind in both games, we also showed that we're capable of coming from behind."
Virginia emerged as the winner of the tournament with junior forward Alecko Eskandarian (Tournament MVP), junior midfielder Ryan Kelly, senior defender Jonathon Cole and junior defender Matt Oliver being named to the All-Tournament Team.
In the last game of the Virginia Soccer Classic, Rhode Island and Virginia spent nearly equal time on both sides of the field and traded scoring opportunities, but neither squad was able to convert.
Following a fast-paced Kentucky-Maryland contest, the initial stages of the game seemed measured and unhurried, interspersed with the drama that hinted at what was to come after halftime.
Just more than 12 minutes into the second half, Rhode Island initiated the frenzy when the Rams' senior forward Peter Benevides broke free from the Cavalier defense and chipped the ball in to senior goalkeeper David Comfort.
Comfort lost the ball in the commotion and Benevides followed the ball into the net.
"I'm still not quite sure what happened," Gelnovatch said. "I know that [Benevides] got free and got a good cross off. What I'm just not sure of is how he got so free."
Less than 90 seconds later, Virginia answered. The Cavaliers seemed to have regained their balance as the defense refined its touches, while the offensive effort gained potency and senior midfielder Kenny Arena exercised control over the interchange between the two.
The Cavaliers began to convert opportunities as they picked up the pace of their play, and stepped up their so-far ineffective efforts in the final third of the field.
"It seems to be more important how we play when things are not going our way," senior forward Rob Wright said. "We're a great team when everything is going our way, now it just really matters how we play when they're not."
Yesterday, the Cavaliers rose to that challenge. During a scuffle in front of the Rams' goal, Wright shook the ball loose for sophomore midfielder John Hartman. Hartman crossed to Eskandarian, who one-timed the ball past Rhode Island's junior goalie Michael Charles.
The Cavaliers then missed on several opportunities until Eskandarian's attempt left Wright and Rhode Island's sophomore Emerson Aquilera lunging for the same ball. The collision sent the ball floating into the net and Virginia on to victory.
Wright's goal shut down Rhode Island's hopes for a victory, and settled any question of whether Wright will be a key factor on this season's squad.
"It feels really good to be back in the middle of things," Wright said of his return after sitting out the 2001 season.
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