The No. 2 Virginia men’s soccer team kicks off its 2015 season at 7 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 29) when No. 17 Charlotte comes to Klöckner Stadium. The early showdown of top-20 sides pits a pair of programs that were seeded in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
Broadcast Information
A live video broadcast will be available through a Cavaliers Live subscription on VirginiaSports.com. Live statistics (GameTracker) also can be found on VirginiaSports.com.
Virginia-Charlotte Series
Virginia holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series with Charlotte. The sides last met on Sept. 16, 2011, a 2-1 Charlotte overtime win in Charlottesville. The 49ers scored the equalizer with 25 seconds left in regulation and the golden goal in the 91st minute to pull out the win.
UVa Selected as Preseason ACC Favorite
Virginia was selected as the ACC favorite in the preseason ACC Coaches Poll. The Cavaliers were named by four coaches as the conference’s team to beat, followed by Clemson, Louisville, North Carolina and Notre Dame with two votes apiece. With 64 points, Virginia also was named by seven coaches as the favorite in the Coastal Division, edging out North Carolina. Louisville was picked as the Atlantic Division favorite.
Virginia Aims to Extend Streak of Winning Seasons
Virginia has recorded 34 straight winning seasons, the longest current streak in Division I men’s soccer. It also is tied for the fifth-longest streak of winning seasons in NCAA history. UVa has won seven national championships during that span.
Who’s Back
Virginia returns 15 letterwinners from its national championship team, including six starters from the title game. All-ACC midfielder Todd Wharton returns to anchor the Cavaliers’ lineup; he also will wear the captain’s armband.
Named to the 2014 ACC All-Freshman Team, Jake Rozhansky also returns to the UVa midfield. Sheldon Sullivan, Scott Thomsen, Nick Corriveau and Wesley Suggs, Pablo Aguilar and Riggs Lennon join Wharton and Rozhansky as Cavaliers who started at least seven games apiece last season.
Welcome the New Hoos
Nine newcomers line the Cavaliers’ 2015 roster – eight freshmen and transfer goalkeeper Adam Prevost. The incoming recruiting class was rated No. 2 nationally. Among the standouts in fall training: forward Edward Opoku and midfielder Derrick Etienne. Both should immediately contend for spots in UVa’s Starting XI.
Noting Charlotte
The preseason favorites to win Conference USA, Charlotte went 14-4-1 last season and returns nine starters from its 2014 side. Charlotte has reached the NCAA tournament four straight seasons and was the No. 10 seed in the 2014 field.
A semifinalist for the 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy, senior forward Kyle Parker is picked to repeat as Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year. Defender Biko Bradnock-Brennan and midfielder Brandt Bronico join Parker on the preseason All-Conference USA team.
Up Next
Virginia returns home Friday evening for a 7 p.m. match with Tulsa, an NCAA tournament side in 2014. The Golden Hurricane earned a 1-0 double-overtime win over the Cavaliers early in the 2014 season in Tulsa, Okla.
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Chris Graham
