Heading into the ACC Tournament this week, the Cavaliers are in a different position, but familiar territory.
As the reigning ACC men's soccer champions with a 14-4 record, Virginia is a far cry from last year's young and struggling squad that had to capture the ACC championship to ensure a spot in the NCAA tournament.
On the other hand, the No. 11 Cavaliers head into the tournament with an unimpressive 4-3 ACC record and are coming off of two consecutive losses to conference teams. After falling at North Carolina early in the season, Virginia was the clear favorite heading to Virginia Tech. However, the Hokies used their home field advantage and got the best of the Cavaliers.
Virginia's final game of the regular season was a home match against archrival Maryland. Undefeated at home, the Cavaliers seemed to have the upper hand hosting a similarly successful Terrapin team. Virginia was unable to capitalize on several opportunities, however, and Maryland was able to take advantage of one of their looks on goal to take the game 1-0.
These losses dropped Virginia down from a potential first place seed in the tournament to No. 4.
"Maybe we're the favorites as defending champions, but I think we're going to be somewhere in the middle of the pack," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "But to be quite honest, in this league, the eighth place team could beat the first place team on a given day. There's not so much difference. I'll predict right now there will be an upset."
Heading into the tournament in the middle is nothing new for Virginia. Last year the Cavaliers were seeded No. 3 after posting a 3-3 conference record during the regular season. Desperate for a NCAA bid, Virginia beat Clemson in penalty kicks in the quarterfinals then slipped past No. 2 Wake Forest on an own goal to secure a spot in the championship game. In the final, the Cavaliers upset the No. 1 seeded Maryland, also in penalty kicks.
With the physicality of conference games and the intense rivalry that runs through them, the ACC tournament often turns out to be a test of endurance. Already fatigued from the regular season, the teams play as many as three heated matches in five days.
"The wear and tear on the team is tough, but we're not the only team going through it," Gelnovatch said.
This fact may even be an advantage for the Cavaliers, who have been able to keep fresh legs all season long because of their deep bench.
Perhaps the person under the most stress, especially after last year's penalty kick-intensive tournament, is Virginia goalie Ryan Burke.
"It's tough [keeping up the level of toughness]," Burke said. "Last year we were physically fatigued from the ACC tournament. In the post season, you really just have to gut it out. The end's there, you just have to give it your best."
Virginia will first face No. 5 seed Duke on Wednesday to try to advance to Friday night's game against either No. 1 seed Wake Forest or No. 8 seed Virginia Tech. The Blue Devils have a season record identical to that of the Cavaliers, but fell to Virginia 3-2 in overtime in their regular season matchup.
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