University of North Carolina Athletics
Previewing Virginia
October 4, 2007 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 4, 2007
Saturday, October 6, 7 p.m.
North Carolina (3-2-4, 1-1-0 ACC) at No. 5 Virginia (6-1-2, 0-0-2 ACC)
Charlottesville, Va. - Klöckner Stadium
Team Profile: Picked to finish third in the ACC behind Duke and Wake Forest, the Cavaliers are currently 6-1-2 overall, with two ties coming in conference play against NC State (2-2) and No. 9 Virginia Tech (1-1). Their lone loss came from No. 11 Southern Methodist in the third game of the season, 5-1. Against the current top 25, Virginia is 1-1-1 with a win against current No. 20 Tulsa, 2-0. In 9 games, the Cavaliers are out-shooting their opponents 143-69 with a 19-9 goal advantage. At home, they own a 5-0-1 record, while only allowing two goals.
Series History: Carolina and Virginia have met a total of 70 times with UNC holding the overall advantage 32-31-7. The Tar Heels have come away with wins in the last two meetings, each 2-1 and at Fetzer Field. In the latest matchup, Scott Campbell and Eddie Ababio had a goal apiece as the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers, the No. 1 team in the country at the time. Virginia's last win against UNC came in 2005 at home, 2-0.
Rankings: The Cavaliers are ranked No. 5 in the latest NSCAA/adidas National Poll.
Coach: George Gelnovatch is in his 12th season as head coach at Virginia. He took over after Bruce Arena left for the MLS back in 1996. The Cavaliers have reached the NCAA Tournament in every season he's been at the helm.
Key Players: Junior forward Yannick Reyering leads the team in goals with seven. He was named to the 2007 Hermann Trophy Watch List at the beginning of the season as well as the Soccer America Preseason All-America team. Sophomore midfielder Jonathan Villanueva was also named to the team by Soccer America. In second with three goals each is senior midfielder Chris Tierney and sophomore forward Neil Barlow. In goal will be sophomore Michael Giallombardo who owns a 0.95 goals-against average.
