The game was almost a week ago, but it's still fresh in my mind. The men's soccer game against Virginia Tech was one for the ages, and though it ended in a disappointing tie, it gave the record crowd of 7,906 exciting action all the way to the final minute.
Before you start asking me how a bunch of guys kicking a ball could be that entertaining, first ask yourself if you have actually given college soccer a chance. If you've never been to a match, then I was in your shoes a couple of years ago and have since become a Virginia soccer fan.
Don't get me wrong, I would let Michael Vick dog-sit the family pet or walk to Shady Grady alone at night before I regularly watched soccer on TV. But college soccer, especially watching one of the best teams in the country, is great in person. Case in point: the Tech game.
In addition to the intense atmosphere and impressive game action, Friday's match also showcased a unique soccer tradition: When players exit a match for a substitution or when the game ends, players always clap for the fans in the stands. Initially, I thought this practice was quirky at best, but as I have attended more matches, I have found the custom more and more endearing.
Before getting into this, let's set the scene for the aforementioned contest. The opening period offered both teams opportunities to get the first goal, but it was not until the 34th minute that Virginia Tech was able to beat the Wahoo defense and take a 1-0 lead. Virginia, after failing to capitalize on a number of great chances, finally evened up the score with 20 minutes to go in the second half, drawing a penalty kick when Ross LaBauex was fouled in the box. Yannick Reyering knocked home the PK with his patented stutter-step juke move.
Regulation ended with a tie score, and the in-state rivals entered sudden-death extra time. U.Va. came out firing in the first overtime, controlling the ball and peppering Tech goalie Markus "Banana" Aigner with shots. It was the Hokies, however, who seemingly had the last laugh when they ended up with a penalty kick in the final minute of the second overtime as a result of a Virginia handball in the box.
Judging by Reyering's reaction, as he threw his hands to his head and yelled "Nooooo," one could tell the situation was not favorable for the Wahoos. Following Reyering's lead, the fans in the stands initially groaned at the PK call before falling deathly quiet in anticipation of the shot.
And in a second it was over. Wahoo goalie Mike Giallombardo dove to his left and made the save, ending an incredible game with a ridiculous play.
The Hokies made one more flurry as they scrambled to make up for the failed PK, but were unable to score and the game ended in a draw. Virginia's bench mobbed the players on the field, especially congratulating Giallombardo for his incredibly clutch save. Then Mike G led the team to the student section, clapping for our performance and thanking us for the support.
Obviously, it should have been us clapping for him (which we were) for preventing a loss and the humiliation of a defeat at the hands of our arch-rivals. If there was ever a show of the significance of this soccer custom, it was this: the hero of the match thanking the fans for their loyalty rather than basking in the praise he surely deserved.
The tradition is not unique to U.Va. soccer, as it is practiced all over the world as a show of respect and thanks for the fans that go all out for their teams. The devotion of soccer fans to their respective clubs is arguably unparalleled in the sports world (as evidenced by the resulting rivalries, disputes and even violence). Fans try to make noise for the entire 90 minutes through cheers, chants and clapping. The least players can do is recognize that dedication by clapping for the fans at the end of a match.
I'm not trying to say that in other sports players don't care about the fans. But in soccer, there is a more visible show of respect exhibited by the players after games when they clap for the fans. When a football player runs over to the student section and looks up, it gives off much more of a "Look at me and what I've done" vibe. In soccer, it feels more like, "Look what we did with your help; thanks."
Coach Gelnovatch understands how much fans can make an impact on the outcome of a match. He often beckons students to games through e-mails or print ads and mentions in postgame interviews that the fans played a part in the team's success. The players echo this sentiment every time they clap for the fans while leaving the field after the final horn sounds.
And at the rate we're going, it looks like there will be reason for both sides to continue clapping for the rest of the season.
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