When goalkeeper Ryan Burke graduated last spring, he left the Virginia men's soccer team with some big shoes, and gloves, to fill.
As a Cavalier, Burke held the opposing side scoreless in 28 games, thus establishing the school record for career shutouts. He also ranks among the top 10 in Virginia's career categories of minutes played, games played, saves and goals allowed average. Indeed, in the four years Burke anchored Virginia in the net, the Cavaliers won the ACC Championship twice, made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and earned a top 10 national ranking each year.
This fall, senior Kyle Rudzinski, sophomore Michael Giallombardo and freshman Dan Louisignau are charged with tending what had long been Burke's goal.
"After our season last year, back in December, I would have said that that position, [goalkeeper], was one of concern," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "Mike [Giallombardo] didn't have any games under his belt or a lot of experience at that point, but last spring he played five or six games in the goal -- he did well for us in there and has been very good in the pre-season."
Giallombardo has been pegged as this fall's starting goalkeeper and in this past weekend's exhibition match, he tallied one save in the first half.Louisignau then tended the goal in the second, making two saves and securing the Cavaliers' 1-0 shutout victory against South Florida.Prior to the match, Gelnovatch indicated that he wanted to get Louisignau some early minutes not only to aid in his development, but also to allow the coaching staff to asses what his goalkeeping role might be this season.
Combining size, athleticism, ability and experience on the U-18 National Team, Louisignau arrived at Virginia with the complete package.Indeed, Gelnovatch and Giallombardo are both aware that Louisignau will challenge Giallombardo for his position and strive to be a freshman starting goalkeeper, just as Ryan Burke was.
"The freshman is very talented," Gelnovatch said. "He is battling a little bit of sickness right now so he is a little run-down and we haven't seen his best, but I feel like we have a good group of goalkeepers here."
As Burke was one of the team's captains, his departure has been felt by more than just the Cavaliers' back line.Senior defender Matt Williams, however, has stepped up and will captain the team together with junior Yannick Reyering.
"I feel like Matt Williams has kind of picked up where Ryan Burke left off in the captaincy," Gelnovatch said. "He did a great job throughout the spring and really stepped up as a leader."
Williams' leadership has continued throughout the preseason.Confident and optimistic about this season's prospects, he has taken special care to incorporate the incoming freshmen into the fold.
"I think we look very promising," Williams said. "A lot of injuries that people were carrying through the spring have healed up over the summer and everyone's been benefiting from the fitness we have been doing. From a physical standpoint, we're looking about as good as we can expect."
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