Virginia men's soccer alum Adam Cristman gives hope to all Cavalier fans still disappointed that Washington Nationals' third-baseman Ryan Zimmerman did not garner the title Rookie of the Year last fall. Cristman's stand-out performance during his first season as a target forward for the New England Revolution has propelled him to the top of Major League Soccer's list of candidates for the award.
"A lot of kids come and go through the Virginia program, a lot of very talented soccer players," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "But I remember telling Adam when he was finished here that I knew that whatever he did, soccer or whatever else, he was going to be a successful guy."
Having started in more than half of the Revolution's matches, and seeing minutes in all but one, Cristman has notched four goals and four assists and has contributed significantly to New England's success this season. Cristman remembers being excited by the prospect of joining a team with something to prove when he was drafted in January . Indeed, having lost the 2006 MLS Championship match in penalty kicks, the Revolution is on a quest for the title that slipped through its fingers last year.
"Everything I had heard about New England was that the team was great and the coaches were great guys -- laid back but still able to get the job done," Cristman said. "I was really excited to head up to New England where I have some family and I certainly was excited just to get drafted, to get a shot at the League."
With a 12-6-6 record thus far, the Revolution is second only to D.C. United (14-6-4) in both the League and Eastern Conference standings.
"We have a laugh every day at practice, and that's what really makes this team good," Cristman said. "It is a long season, so I'm learning how to pace myself through the rest of it and keep a positive attitude the whole time because obviously your confidence waxes and wanes. As we near playoffs, it's time for us to focus, but we are still going to have a moment or two every day where we can joke around and have some fun."
Cristman noted a difference between this attitude and the one taken by his Virginia coaches.He said while the Cavaliers were always close, Gelnovatch was perhaps a little more focused and serious during practices.
Such intensity, however, is a requirement of any good collegiate program. The leap from high school to college soccer is greater than the one from a collegiate powerhouse, like Virginia, to the pros. Cristman said he believes his four years with the Cavaliers have helped him mesh well with the Revolution and boost him into the running for Rookie of the Year.
"The [Virginia] coaches worked a lot with me on playing with my back to the goal and finishing and things like that -- all of which has really helped," Cristman said. "Virginia is a good passing team as well and that has put me in a good position with New England, one of the best passing teams in all of MLS."
If Cristman is named Rookie of the Year, he probably will not remember it as the most significant thing about 2007.Cristman, characterized by Gelnovatch as a true family man, got married less than two weeks ago to his long-time girlfriend.
"If I was to win it, I mean, those who have won Rookie of the Year in the past have gone on to be great players in the league, and to have my name be among that handful of players would be really neat, but it is not the most important thing on my mind," Cristman said.
So, less than a year out of college, Cristman has already fulfilled his coach's predictions.Balancing work and family, he has found success on and off the soccer field and serves as a role model for current and future Cavaliers, athletes or not.
"One of the things that I feel is extremely important and which means a lot to me is that he actually graduated," Gelnovatch said. "It is refreshing to see a kid have his success and to actually receive his degree. He made sure that he could graduate in December so that if and when he got drafted he would be ready to go -- and the plan worked. Doesn't surprise me that he planned it like that, that's the kind of kid he is"
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