It is certainly a tale of two programs -- one firmly rooted in the cellar, the other almost untouchable in its pursuit of an ACC regular season title. Records, though, will certainly not be all that matters when the No. 7 Cavaliers (14-2, 3-1 ACC) and Virginia Tech (8-8, 1-4) open a new chapter in a long standing rivalry on Saturday when the two meet in Blacksburg.
The Cavaliers, coming off a dominating performance against the Monarchs of Old Dominion, haven't played the Hokies in the regular season for five years. But the team is motivated for what could be a grueling contest, the first meeting between the two sides in the new-look ACC.
"Any game between U.Va. and Virginia Tech, no matter what sport, it is going to be a big rivalry," senior defender Matt Oliver said. "It's going to be as big for us as versus Maryland."
Rivalry aside, the two programs are at different ends of the ACC spectrum. Virginia Tech has dropped four conference games and is seventh in the eight-team league. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, are a game ahead of Wake Forest at the top of the standings and have only lost two games the entire season. Virginia also has fared better against common opponents, scoring a combined total of 14 goals compared to only six by the Hokies -- a fact highlighted by Virginia's decisive 4-1 victory over Old Dominion, a team Virginia Tech lost to 3-2 at home.
If Virginia Tech stands a chance of pulling off an upset, they will need the safe hands of junior goalkeeper Chase Harrison. Harrison was the hero in the Hokies' surprise win over then-No. 1 Duke, the team's only ACC win, and has recorded eight shutouts this season. He was named to Soccer America's team of the week for his performance in that game and headlines a Hokie defense that has been extremely stingy all season. Allowing only 19 goals this season, Virginia Tech's defense will certainly have to play well against a Cavalier squad that has scored seven goals in the last two games alone and possesses 16 different goal scorers.
Virginia Tech has been unable to use home advantage all season, dropping four of its six games in Blacksburg. Virginia Coach George Gelnovatch, to the contrary, believes the Hokies will hold the upper hand playing on their home field.
"That's what this game for me is going to be more about than anything -- it's going to be at their place, and it's an ACC game now, and it never used to be," Gelnovatch said. "The other thing is that it's going to be their biggest crowd of the year -- whether it's the band or the cheerleaders or whatever it is, they're going to have everything out there and throw everything at us that they can."
Although the Cavaliers have won 10 straight games, Virginia's players remain aware of how dangerous it is to play away at a team with its back to the wall.
"They're struggling, and taking a win off of us will help them big time", defender Hunter Freeman said. "It's at their place so I'm sure they'll be juiced up and ready for the game, and we will be too, because if we get a win there, we're putting ourselves in the driver's seat to finish up top in the ACC."
History favors the Cavaliers in tomorrow's contest. Virginia has compiled a 31-2 record and has won 27 consecutive meetings between the two sides.
Read More
Wrestling gets blown out 34-9 on long road trip to Stanford
By Ryan Weiner | 19 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 | YesterdayVirginia, 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 | YesterdayOnce again, Virginia has proven to be head and shoulders above other top programs.
