Even though he considers himself no more or less important than any other member of the Virginia men's soccer team, Mike Giallombardo's green jersey makes it impossible for him to blend in with the rest of the Cavaliers. Not to mention he is Virginia's last line of defense and at any given moment, one of only two players on the field permitted to use his hands.
Although the redshirted sophomore goalie has been with the Cavaliers for two seasons, Giallombardo was overshadowed by veteran keeper Ryan Burke. Last spring, however, with Burke's graduation imminent, Giallombardo began the transition to starting goalkeeper.
"He really made the big jump in the spring and played in all our spring games," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "Mike got a lot of good experience and got himself fit and really took it to heart."
As he developed, Giallombardo found the Virginia coaching staff supporting him every step of the way. With their help, he said he cut some weight last spring and worked hard to prepare physically for his new role.
"This is a great program," Giallombardo said. "The coaches here always keep you on your toes, keep you ready, and they are always positive. They have had a lot of confidence in me for a while."
Giallombardo also benefited from Burke's tutelage. Widely hailed as one of the best goalkeepers the Virginia program has ever had, Burke offered unparalleled advice and wisdom to his eventual replacement.
"Ryan was the best -- and I'm not just saying that because I want to sound like a good guy," Giallombardo said. "He treated me like I played every game, and I learned so much about the college game from him. I wouldn't be playing as confident as I am now if wasn't for Ryan, because the college game is very different."
Some of Burke's modesty apparently has also rubbed off on Giallombardo. He insists that he is just "one of the guys" and that without Virginia's solid back line, the other team would score at least 10 goals a game.
Indeed, Virginia's veteran defensemen junior Matt Poole, senior Zola Short and senior Matt Williams have helped make Giallombardo's transition a smooth one.With Poole's composure, Zola's speed and Williams' smarts, the Cavalier defense is formidable.
As for proof that the veteran defensive line is compatible with the new keeper: Virginia has yet to allow a goal this season.
"Mike is doing very well -- him and Burke are quite different goalies but, I mean, they are both great," Poole said. "Giallombardo's a lot better with his feet and he's more of an organizer whereas Burke was a reflex-type keeper. They are both great and we've been very lucky to have them."
Last Sunday, the Richmond Spiders gave Giallombardo his first real test this fall. Making four saves, two of which highlighted his athleticism and keen reflexes, Giallombardo recorded his first shutout of the year.
"The biggest challenge this season, I guess, is being out on the field and not on the bench," Giallombardo said. "Burke was a great keeper and I am really just trying to play my role and help us win. The team's so talented this year that ... if I can keep it out of the net, then we should win a lot of games."
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