Virginia Cavaliers
Overall Rank: #7
Conference Rank: #3 ACC
Virginia Team Page
Last year Virginia had a solid season… if it weren’t for that pesky Atlantic Coast Conference schedule. The Cavaliers went 7-3-3 in games outside the ACC but faltered inside the league. Virginia finished just under .500 in ACC games, and that is one statistic the Cavaliers will have to change if they hope to win postseason games, much less finish high in the league. Still, Virginia did make the NCAA tournament and managed to win one game before faltering. A talented, albeit young, roster should help Virginia’s ACC fortunes improve greatly in the fall of 2013.
2012 Record: 10-7-4, 3-4-1
2012 Postseason: NCAA tournament (lost in second round, 3-1, to New Mexico)
Coach: George Gelnovatch
Strengths:
Goalkeeper Spencer LaCivita was responsible for 66 saves last year, and even though he lost seven games it was still a fine season for the veteran net minder. Of the seven losses the Virginia offense didn’t give LaCivita much help, as evidenced by the Cavaliers scoring four goals in those contests. You can be a great goalkeeper and also rack up losses if your team does not score. As far as offense, the leading scorer may be gone (see weaknesses), but there is plenty of help left over. Zach Carroll had four goals last year in just 10 shots on net. Other scorers are also back, including Marcus Salandy-Defour, Eric Bird and Darius Madison.
Weaknesses:
After an illustrious career that saw him finish seventh overall in points scored with 46, Will Bates graduated from Virginia. His 25 points will be hard to make up, but the presence of other scorers will help the Cavaliers in the long run. Bates accounted for 12 of last year’s 29 goals, so if the team can’t overcome his loss it could be a problem. That should not be a big issue. What is more of an issue is Virginia’s ACC record (3-4-1) and record on the road (2-3-2). Virginia must get better there.
Final Projection:
Even though Bates has graduated and Virginia has had record issues, this should still be a strong season for the Cavaliers. The fact the NCAA selected Virginia for the tournament despite having a 9-6-4 record going in is indicative of the strength of the ACC. Virginia routinely faces the top teams in the nation, and it should be rewarded for its strength of schedule. While Virginia may fall short of a conference title, don’t be surprised to see the Cavaliers back in the postseason.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Zach Carroll, Sophomore, D, 4
Assists: Scott Thomsen, Sophomore, MF/D, 8
Shots: Eric Bird, Junior, MF, 38
Saves: Spencer LaCivita, Junior, GK, 66
Madness 2013 Men’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#4 Jordan Allen
#15 Riggs Lennon
#22 Nicko Corriveau
#37 Patrick Foss
#78 Pablo Aguilar
See All Men's Soccer Top 44 Team Previews
