CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The Cavaliers' loss to ACC rival North Carolina yesterday was not because of a major team failure, but instead it was due to something that was just not quite there.
No. 12 Virginia (5-0-1) was a little bit slower, a little bit less intense, a little bit less organized and a little bit less able to execute than its Tar Heel opponents (1-3-2), losing to UNC, 2-1.
"We just didn't play that well today," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "It wasn't bad but I don't know, overall it just wasn't as solid as it has been."
North Carolina had many reasons to come out swinging against Virginia, and they did just that. Most importantly, the Tar Heels needed to break their four-game losing streak and try to turn around what has been their worst season start since 1997.
"They are better than their record shows," junior defender Hunter Freeman said. "Us being on the road and it being their first ACC game and they're trying to bounce back, it was a huge game for them. We knew we were going to kind of be on our heels."
Ten minutes into the game, the Tar Heels put the Cavaliers on the defensive by putting one in the back of the net. A Virginia miss-hit around the midfield line put the ball into the possession of Carolina senior forward and leading scorer Marcus Storey. Storey dribbled nearly half a field length almost unchallenged, putting Virginia in a dangerous position. Storey passed the ball off of the sophomore midfielder Michael Harrington, whose shot was deflected into the goal by the Cavaliers.
Storey's speed was a threat throughout the game, but Virginia had not expected anything different.
"Their team revolves around Storey and [midfielder Corey] Ashe and to some extent [forward Jamie] Watson," Gelnovatch said. "They beat you more individually than they do as a team."
The eventual game-winner for North Carolina came off of a free kick, which was blocked twice by the Virginia wall but eventually put in the center of the box and volleyed past Cavalier goalie Ryan Burke.
"The second goal we do very well in the restart but then one of our backs doesn't come up and keeps the guy onsides," Gelnovatch said. "That's what we work on -- we had two big breakdowns on restarts."
While the Cavalier breakdowns were more technical than emotional, the blue-clad Carolina crowd did its best to distract Virginia. Throughout the game the fans heckled the Cavaliers, calling them by name and ridiculing everything from their hairstyles to their plays. Initially, their attempt proved futile as Virginia came back from the 1-0 deficit to tie the game 10 minutes after the Carolina goal. Adam Cristman headed the ball past the Tar Heel keeper off of a free kick from junior defender Hunter Freeman. Cristman returned to the field yesterday after missing the last two games because of an injury.
Coming out of the break, the Cavaliers failed to get the second-half surge they have experienced in most of their games so far this season. While their second half play improved and possession was more evenly divided, the Cavaliers did not create many opportunities to take the lead. They continued to look one step behind, with the exception of freshman midfielder Nico Colaluca.
"He's the one guy that for us is able to, with speed, run at people with the ball," Gelnovatch said. "They have a couple guys that can do that but he was a bright spot today."
Virginia will next face UMBC Wednesday at Klöckner Stadium.
Read More
Wrestling gets blown out 34-9 on long road trip to Stanford
By Ryan Weiner | 8 hours agoSolid performances from its most reliable trio were not enough for Virginia.
Freshman excellence powers No. 5 men’s tennis past Boise State, No. 19 Alabama
By Thomas Baxter | 17 hours agoVirginia, unlike many other regional hosts, held serve as its quartet's top seed.
No. 1 women’s swimming and diving destroys No. 2 Texas
By Xander Tilock | 19 hours agoOnce again, Virginia has proven to be head and shoulders above other top programs.
