UVa. soccer loads on preseason hype

With its first exhibition contest less than two weeks away and a preseason No. 2 national ranking from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the Virginia men’s soccer team has had several student-athletes earn preseason accolades.

Senior goalkeeper and 2009 first team All-America selection Diego Restrepo (West Palm Beach, Fla.) has been named to College Soccer News’ 2010 Preseason All-America first team, and junior defender Greg Monaco (Virginia Beach, Va.) was named to the publication’s Preseason All-America third team.

Additionally, sophomore forward Will Bates (Chester, Va.) and Monaco were two players on the list of 39 athletes named to the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy Watch List for the 2010 season. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer. Voting for the MAC Hermann Trophy is conducted in late November, when a field of 15 semifinalists is reduced to three finalists. Those three will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo., on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, where a news conference will be held to announce the winner.

Restrepo was the 2009 NCAA College Cup’s Defensive Most Valuable Player after helping the Cavaliers capture the national championship. He allowed eight goals for a goals-against average of 0.31 in 2009, and tallied a school-record 16 shutouts (including a school-record 11-consecutive). Restrepo was named the ACC Tournament MVP after the Cavaliers captured the conference crown and was also named a Soccer America MVP and an All-South Atlantic Region third team member by the NSCAA.

Monaco was part of the Virginia defense that posted 17 shutouts in 2009 and allowed just eight goals all season. He started 25 games for the Cavaliers and registered one goal and one assist (on a game-winning goal). Last season he was selected to the NSCAA’s All-South Atlantic Region first team.

Bates returns for his sophomore season after being named Soccer America’s National Freshman of the Year in 2009. He was the team leader in goals (12), points (25) and game-winning goals (five), and also registered one assist. A member of the ACC All-Tournament team, Bates was also selected to the conference’s All-ACC second team and ACC All-Freshmen team.

The Cavaliers begin the 2010 campaign with two exhibition contests at Klöckner Stadium (Aug. 20 vs. VCU at 4 p.m. and Aug. 23 vs. VMI at 7 p.m.). Following a final exhibition at George Mason (Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.), the regular season begins on Sept. 3 against UAB. Kick-off for that season-opener at Klöckner Stadium is 8 p.m.

Fans can order season tickets online, in person or by telephone. To purchase tickets online, visit VirginiaSports.com. In-person sales can be made at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Telephone purchases can be made by calling 800.542.UVA1 (8821) or locally at 434.924.UVA1 (8821).

The 2010 All-Soccer Reserved Season Pass (reserved seats for all home men’s and women’s games) is $90. The Men’s Soccer Reserved Season Pass is $50. General Admission All-Soccer Season Passes are also available for adults ($40), Youth/Senior ($30) and Faculty/Staff ($30).
 
 

Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at [email protected].