Intensity -- the magic word for the Virginia men's soccer team as it takes on Maryland Saturday night. Stepping onto the field without it, the Cavaliers can hope for little more than a mediocre performance and another draw. With it, however, this talented, skillful and athletic team has shown that it can strike fear into the hearts of the Terrapins.
Recently, Virginia (10-4-2) has failed to maintain a high level of focus and determination for a full 90 minutes. The result: three consecutive ACC losses to Clemson, Boston College and Duke.
Currently 1-3-2 in the ACC, the No. 14 Virginia men view their final two conference contests, against No. 25 Maryland and No. 2 Wake Forest, as a chance to turn their ACC season around. College Park, Md. will be the Cavaliers' first stop as they close out their regular season on the road against two nationally ranked opponents.
"Of course we want the win and it is definitely important for us but we are just trying to think of it as another game," senior Chris Tierney said. "Who knows if it is do or die ,but we are not really thinking about that, we are trying to win just to win."
Although Maryland (8-4-4, 2-3-1 ACC) has also struggled in conference play, tomorrow night's contest comes on the heels of a 5-0 shutout win over the N.C. State Wolfpack. Four different Terrapins scored as Maryland controlled the pace of the game and held N.C. State to a single shot on goal.
"Of course a win [there] is important but you can't make it the end-all, because if you don't achieve it then your team is kind of looking like 'Where do we go from here?'" Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "The team knows it is important, and we want to build off our energy and move forward."
That energy carried the Cavaliers to a shutout victory over Mercer Tuesday night. Three different Cavaliers, sophomores Ross LaBauex and Matt Mitchell and junior Nino DiMaggio found the back of the Bears' net, giving Virginia the 4-0 win.
"We really needed something to sort of get us going again," Tierney said. "I think with it being senior night, it was just a good game to get ourselves ready for the rest of the season. We need to be more intense and ready, and I think we are now."
The Mercer game was the first multi-goal game of LaBauex's career, while Mitchell and DiMaggio's contributions to the Cavalier side of the scoreboard marked the second career goal for each.
With the postseason tournaments fast approaching, numerous players' demonstration of their ability to create chances and score goals puts Virginia in a good position. It is dangerous to rely on one or two men, in Virginia's case junior Yannick Reyering and Tierney, to do all the scoring.
Players and coaches alike have said that they feel this team is emerging from what they have called a "funk."
"We have had some good days of training and some good meetings, and I think we are definitely on the right track," Tierney said.
Although Tuesday night's high-energy performance would certainly seem to support Tierney's beliefs, Saturday's contest against a much tougher opponent will be the true indicator for this Virginia team as it enters the final stretch of the season.
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