As the men's soccer season reaches its midpoint, heavy legs and decreasing stamina become a major concern for the Cavaliers.
Fortunately, the team has been sparked by outstanding play from junior reserve midfielders Ian Holder and Will Hall. Both players have had to adjust to changing roles this season but have become invaluable assets to the team late in games. They have helped the No. 4 Cavaliers to a 5-1-1 overall record and a 2-0 mark in the ACC.
"[Their role] will change over the season, but right now, those are the guys I feel most confident putting in any type of game," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "They have proven themselves, so I can put them in under any circumstance."
As games wear on, Holder and Hall provide reliable fresh legs to spell tired starters, even during crunch time.
"In games we're winning, our role has been to come in and play defense and try to maintain the lead," Hall said. "In games where we are losing, we come in a little more offensive-minded. Our role has been dictated by what the score of the game is."
Hall noted that he and Holder usually end up subbing in with about 30 minutes left in the match. Entering the game so late in the second half has been a change for both players, who saw significant time as starters the past two years.
Hall started a total of 37 games his first two seasons with the Cavaliers, while Holder started 21 games. With the success of freshmen and sophomore players on the squad this year, they have had to embrace their roles as reserves.
"If you don't wish you're starting, you shouldn't be out there," Holder said. "Of course I want to start, but it just didn't work out like that. It happened like that last year. I worked my way onto the field throughout the year."
This season, Holder has contributed four points off of one goal and two assists.
As the season wears on, the play of reserves will become increasingly important to Virginia's success, as starters will have more difficulty logging as many minutes.
"Those two [Hall and Holder] are our top reserves right now," Gelnovatch said. "As the season goes on, we'll develop a couple more."
The Cavaliers' season continues today as they take on Mount Saint Mary's at 7 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium. Virginia has outscored the 1-4-2 Mountaineers 13-0 over their last four contests, but Holder insists the team is not looking past them.
"We have to take it one game at a time," he said. "In Division I, you can't overlook any team. They're going to have some weapons, and we're just going to prepare for it with the same intensity we always had."
Hall observed that the Cavaliers' Wednesday games are generally against easier opponents than their weekend games. With North Carolina coming to town Saturday, that is certainly the case this week. Last Wednesday however, the team suffered a 3-0 setback at Old Dominion, as Saturday's showdown versus Boston College loomed.
"Hopefully, we learned our lesson from last Wednesday at Old Dominion," Gelnovatch said. "Obviously that was a better opponent, and this game is at home, so it'll be different. The plan is to rest some guys and give some guys who are normally reserves an opportunity to start, which will create some enthusiasm."
The Cavaliers have a 4-0 all-time record against the Mountaineers and defeated them 1-0 in their latest meeting in 2003.
After what should be no more than a tune-up Wednesday, the Cavaliers entertain No. 2 North Carolina Saturday in a vital ACC showdown.
"We're not thinking about UNC until Wednesday night after the Mount Saint Mary's game," said Hall. "Obviously, UNC is a huge game coming up this weekend"
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