On Aug. 28, the Virginia men's soccer team faced Seton Hall in its home and season opener at Klöckner Stadium. In that game, three true freshmen made their first collegiate start for the Cavaliers -- forward Adam Cristman, midfielder Will Hall and goalkeeper Ryan Best. Despite Virginia's loss on the field, this trio of talented new-comers, led by Best, emerged as mainstays in the starting 11.
Puns aside, the freshman goalie may be the best of this year's new class.
Best was unable to start Virginia's last game against NC State Sunday due to a leg injury, but up until then, he had started every game in net for the Cavaliers this season, including exhibition matches.
"We haven't had a goalkeeper start here as a freshman right off the bat in a very long time," coach George Gelnovatch said.
Being put into the line of fire for a program with a soccer tradition as rich as Virginia's is no easy task, but Best is slowly gaining experience at the college level.
"It's a new environment, but after I got a few games in, it started to get easier," Best said.
It's been an uphill battle for the Williamstown, N.J., native, as Virginia started out the year with two straight losses at home against No. 18 Seton Hall and No. 7 Saint Louis.
Virginia now stands at 4-5 overall and 2-1 in the ACC, with Best now injured but more experienced.
"If you look at the past couple of games, he's had two shutouts and a win against Wake Forest," Gelnovatch said.
Of Best's four wins, two of them have been against two of the country top-five teams, Gelnovatch added. "He's progressing and getting better."
Best's personality speaks volumes as to how he has dealt with the pressure of playing for a Division-One program while being expected to make acceptable grades to play.
Best's relaxed demeanor is as much of an asset in the goal as it is off the field. As teammate and friend Jeff Tuman put it, "He doesn't talk a lot, but he's a big man and he gets the job done."
Freshmen year in college is usually a difficult transitional period for anyone, but lucky for Best, he has a host of upperclassmen helping him adjust along the way.
"They're very good with him, especially guys like Matt Oliver," Gelnovatch said of his veterans aiding Best.
"Matt and I went fishing at some lake he knows, he's a pretty good fisherman but that time he didn't catch anything," Best said.
"He wouldn't leave till he caught one fish, and we got there at five and didn't leave till 8:30."
Best still has the rest of this season and three more years ahead of him in the Division-One ranks, giving him plenty of time to improve -- and lots more fish to fry.
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