If Jonathan Villanueva were not the No. 1 rated soccer recruit in the country, he could probably make a good living as a professional actor. The freshman midfielder has already captivated crowds of thousands with his talent and emotion. Both these skills helped the No. 3 Virginia men's soccer team (2-0-0) win the Virginia Soccer Classic last weekend.
While most incoming first years spent their summer trying to learn how to pronounce the names of various buildings around Grounds, Villanueva was playing across the globe with the U.S. National under-20 squad. He even recorded a goal in just the fifth minute of play in a 3-0 victory over Wales. His 153 minutes of play and two starts provided an experience that will serve him well as he makes the transition to the collegiate game.
Villaneuva took little time in earning popular approval at Virginia. In his collegiate debut against the Davidson Wildcats (0-2-0) he was able to blow by a swarm of four defenders just outside of the box only to be tackled by Davidson goalie Ben Ashton and draw the game-winning penalty kick.
"It was great to come out here and prove myself to the fans," Villanueva said. "The most important thing is to get the fans behind you."
Villanueva's stature may not seem very intimidating at 5 feet, 10 inches and 160 lbs., but on the pitch he is one of the boldest players on the field. He may not have the 6-foot, 6-inch frame of sophomore forward Yannick Reyering, but he has shown the physical ability to break arm tackles and dispense some well-timed physical defense as well.
Villanueva's real strength, however, lies not in his brawn but in his flight. His ability to burst towards a deep pass or sidestep a defender has garnered awe from his fellow teammates and respect from his coaching staff.
"Those little plays are special plays," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "If he can run at people at the box he's either going to score, create a good chance or draw a penalty kick."
Maybe that is why Villanueva has left both regular season games to standing ovations. His ability to make something seemingly out of nothing creates a palatable buzz each and every time his feet touch the ball. And though new to the collegiate game, he is not afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve.
Sunday, against the No. 21 UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos (1-1-0), Villanueva was able to get around his opponent and steal the ball away from him near midfield. After his pass was just nudged out of harm's way by a UCSB defender, Villaneuva jerked his head violently. He stood for a moment in complete disbelief with both hands on his head and a pained expression more suitable for a broken bone than a missed opportunity.
That kind of intensity also appeared after his stellar debut Friday, whenVillanueva did more than wave or nod in appreciation, he put forth an energetic celebration of raw emotion that was worthy of a curtain call.
"Whenever they applaud me, I want to applaud them back and acknowledge them for the support they gave me," Villanueva said.
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