The No. 2 Virginia men's soccer team appears to be peaking at just the right time of the year.
The Cavaliers have won their past two contests against top-25 teams by a combined score of 6-1.
"When it comes down to the ACC and NCAA tournament, [RPI] matters when talking about a top-four seed," senior forward Adam Cristman said. "Whatever happens, hopefully we're on top."
One major reason for this impressive run will be on full display Friday night against the No. 3 Wake Forest Demon Deacons when the seniors are honored in front of what promises to be a sizable crowd at Klöckner Stadium.
The seven team members of the Class of 2007 have amassed a career record of 54-22-6. The postseason, however, has continued to plague them. The Cavaliers have advanced past the third round only once in 2004, where Duke crushed them 3-0.
"We learned our lesson last year," senior goalie Ryan Burke said. "We started well and started hearing national championship whispers. All of the sudden you're 5-3 and [you've] given up nine goals in three games. What happened in the past, happened in the past."
This year, senior leadership may be the difference between another heartbreak and breaking through to the College Cup as three different starters have made significant contributions to Virginia's run toward a regular season ACC Championship.
Two years ago, Burke tied the school record for most starts at goal in a season with 24. His play has only improved since and as his career with Virginia comes to a close he is within distance of breaking all the records for Virginia keepers. Burke is four games away from the school record for most career games in goal, and is just two saves away from second-most all-time.
Burke, however, is quick not to let the ranking and the high expectations get the best of him.
"If I've learned anything from college soccer and dealing with 21-year-old kids, anything can happen day in and day out," Burke said. "You just never know what you're going to get."
Cristman has scored the last four goals for Virginia and registered the first hat trick in seven years for a Cavalier. Always an offensive threat, Cristman's goals have always been well-timed. His game-winning goal against the Virginia Tech Hokies gave him 12 for his career, tying him with five other players for seventh all-time, including his current coach, George Gelnovatch.
Senior midfielder Ian Holder's numbers are not staggering, with 11 goals and 10 assists for his career, but what he lacks in numbers he makes up for in effort and intensity. Holder has stymied some of the best midfielders in the country this year. His combination of speed and size present a matchup problem for most teams in the country. Holder has always been a key to the team, playing in all 15 games this year and 82 in his career.
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