Opening its season with 5-0 and 2-0 victories over Columbia and Richmond, respectively, the Virginia men's soccer team averaged more points per game this past weekend than did Cavalier football.
Indeed, Friday night's five goals marks the highest number the Cavaliers have tallied in a single game since 2002.
"What we had tonight was the willingness, and the killer instinct, to get the second goal," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "In the South Florida exhibition match we got one goal and then just sat on it so we talked about finishing it off and that's what they did tonight."
Just 30 seconds into the 2007 season, junior Yannick Reyering began the Cavalier's scoring spree by not hesitating to put the ball in the back of the net at his very first opportunity. The goal would be Reyering's 12th career game-winning goal, moving him into a tie for eighth all-time. The distinction is held by five other players, including Gelnovatch.
With a little more than 10 minutes to go in the first half, senior midfielder Jeremy Barlow was involved in a mass collision in front of the Bulls' goal and fouled in the box. Reyering converted the penalty into his second goal of the game.
"Yannick was practicing kicks yesterday [Thursday], and he hit 10 for 10," Gelnovatch said. "I don't want to jinx him, but he is very accurate at penalty kicks."
Scoring two goals in the second half Friday, senior midfielder Chris Tierney began his quest for the title of leading scorer, a distinction Reyering has captured during both of his previous seasons.
"The team has sort of a different look this year, a different style of play that I think really suites me," Tierney said. "I am just happy with the goals -- it's definitely the way I wanted to start out."
After Reyering's and Tierney's goals had given Virginia a commanding lead over Columbia, Gelnovatch began relieving his starting players, allowing eight Cavaliers to make their collegiate debuts Friday night: T.J. Cyrus, Colin Givens, Jason Kim, Jimmy Simpson, Karter Smith, Kyle Rudzinski, Xavier Rock and Chase Neinken.
The Cavaliers were back in action yesterday when the in-state rival Richmond Spiders made the trip to Klöckner.
"It's a quick turnaround, but we are used to it this time of year. We are always playing two games -- Friday and Sunday -- at this point in the season," Gelnovatch said.
Although Richmond also came off a one-day rest period, both teams hustled from the first whistle until the last. Sophomore Neil Barlow scored his first collegiate goal unassisted to put the Cavaliers up 1-0.
"It felt good to get the jitters out and get that first goal -- I have had a couple chances in the past so it is nice to finally get it in," Neil Barlow said.
Virginia sophomore goalkeeper Mike Giallombardo then demonstrated his prowess in the net, making two very difficult saves and protecting Virginia's lead going into halftime. Once the Cavaliers retook the field, it was not long before Tierney scored his third goal of the season off a perfectly placed cross by Jeremy Barlow. Virginia went up 2-0 and tallied its second shutout of the season.
"If you don't get that second goal they have hope until the last second so Chris definitely took a lot of the pressure off us," Gelnovatch said. "That second goal makes all the difference in the world, and overall I thought we managed the game very well."
Read More
Volleyball holds off Boston College in tight five-set win
By Lauren Halak | 4 hours agoSenior outside hitter Elayna Duprey led the team throughout the match with 22 points and 18 kills.
Virginia annihilated 41-14 in a must-win contest versus North Carolina
By Peter Kriebel | YesterdayJust about everything that could have gone wrong for Virginia football went wrong.
No. 24 women’s soccer not to be denied in late win over Clemson
By Sam Chun | YesterdayThe Cavaliers topped Clemson 1-0 in front of a packed out Klöckner Stadium.
