2020 Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer team

The 2020 Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer team represents University of Virginia during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The Cavaliers are led by head coach George Gelnovatch, in his twenty-fifth season. They played home games at Klöckner Stadium. This is the team's 80th season playing organized men's college soccer and their 68th playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference.[1]

2020 Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionNorth
Ranking
CoachesNo. 5
2020 record3–4–1 (2–3–1 ACC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home stadiumKlöckner Stadium
Uniform
Home
Away
2020 ACC men's soccer standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
North
No. 2 Pittsburgh 4 –0 –0  7 –1 –0
No. 4 Virginia Tech 3 –1 –2  3 –2 –2
Notre Dame 3 –2 –0  5 –4 –0
Virginia 2 –3 –1  3 –4 –1
Louisville 1 –4 –1  1 –6 –1
Syracuse 0 –3 –2  0 –3 –2
South
No. 3 Wake Forest 5 –1 –0  7 –2 –0
North Carolina 3 –1 –2  3 –2 –2
No. 1 Clemson‡ 3 –2 –1  8 –2 –1
Duke 2 –4 –0  2 –6 –0
NC State 0 –5 –1  0 –6 –1
Boston College†   –      –  
As of November 24, 2020; Rankings from United Soccer Coaches
Source:The ACC
Note: † Due to COVID-19, Boston College has suspended the 2020 men's soccer season.

Virginia enters the 2020–21 season as the defending ACC Champions and NCAA Tournament finalists.

The teams' 2020 season was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which curtailed the fall season and caused the NCAA Tournament to be played in Spring 2021. The ACC was one of the only two conferences in men's soccer to play in the fall of 2020. The ACC also held a mini-season during the spring of 2021.

Background
Main article: 2019 Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer team

The 2019 Virginia Cavaliers team finished the season with a final overall record of 21–1–2, and final ACC record of 6–1–1. The Cavaliers were seeded first-overall in the 2019 ACC Men's Soccer Tournament, where they won their first ACC championship since 2009. The Cavaliers earned an automatic bid into the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, continuing their record streak of consecutive NCAA appearances going at 39 appearances. In the NCAA Tournament, Virginia was seeded first overall in the tournament, where they reached the championship game, before losing on penalties to Georgetown.

Player movement

Players leaving
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Daryl Dike 9 FW 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 225 Sophomore Edmond, OK MLS Draft, selected 5th overall by Orlando City
Henry Kessler 5 DF 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 Junior Edmond, OK MLS Draft, selected 6th overall by New England Revolution
Joe Bell 8 MF 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 178 Junior Wanaka, NZL Went pro, signed by Viking
Robin Afamefuna 30 DF 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 Senior Würselen, GER MLS Draft, selected 37th overall by Colorado Rapids
Daniel Steedman 7 FW 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 155 Sophomore Glasgow, SCO Went pro, signed by Atlanta United 2

Players arriving

The signing class was formally announced on August 6, 2020.[2]

Name Nat. Hometown Club TDS Rating
Leo Afonso USABoynton Beach, FLInter Miami[3]
Julian Aguilar GUAGuatemala City, GUAAchik'NR
Jules Anderson USALong Branch, NJNew Jersey Rangers[4]
Holden Brown USAZionsville, INIndy Eleven[5]
Rafael Caipo PERLima, PERSporting CristalNR
Kaya Ignacio USAAustin, TXHouston Dynamo[6]
Chris Scheipe  USA Duluth, GA United Futbol Academy [7]
William Shuchart  USA Santa Barbara, CA Chargers SC NR

Transfers
NameNat.No.Pos.HeightYearHometownNotes
Alex Rando USA0GK6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)RS-FreshmanNew York, NYTransferred from Stanford

Squad

Roster

Updated December 10, 2020[8]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
0 GK  USA Alex Rando
1 GK  USA Colin Shutler
2 DF  USA Eben Noverr
3 DF  USA Isaiah Byrd
4 DF  USA Reed Kessler
5 DF  TAI Oliver Gerbig
6 MF  JAM Jeremy Verly
7 FW  USA Spencer Patton
8 MF  NZL Brett Hasley
9 FW  USA Philip Horton
10 FW  ENG Nathaniel Crofts
11 FW  USA Irakoze Donasiyano
12 DF  NOR Kevin Ogudugo
13 MF  USA Kaya Ignacio
15 FW  USA Jules Anderson
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 FW  USA Leo Afonso
17 DF  NOR Andreas Ueland
18 FW  SWE Axel Gunnarsson
19 MF  USA Nick Berghold
20 FW  ZIM Cabrel Happi Kamseu
21 MF  ESP Joan Gibert
22 DF  PER Rafael Caipo
23 FW  NZL Matthew Warbrick
24 MF  USA Chris Scheipe
25 FW  USA William Shuchart
26 MF  USA Ben Grant
27 MF  USA Beau Bradley
28 MF  GUA Julian Aguilar
29 DF  NZL Lewis Evans
99 GK  USA Holden Brown

Team management
PositionStaff
Athletic DirectorCarla Williams
Head CoachGeorge Gelnovatch
Associate Head CoachMatt Chulis
Assistant CoachRyan Hopkins
Operations AssistantCarl Carpenter

Source:[9]

Preseason

ACC media poll

The ACC men's soccer media poll was released on September 8, 2020. Virginia was picked to win the ACC North Division.[10]

Coaches' Poll
Predicted finish Team Points
1Virginia59 (9)
2Pitt44 (2)
3Virginia Tech35
4Syracuse30
5Louisville29
6Notre Dame28

Preseason honors and awards
  • Preseason All-ACC
    • Nathaniel Crofts, Senior, Forward

Schedule

Source:[11]

Date
Time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (Attendance)
City, State
Exhibitions
September 11
7:00 p.m.		 No. 3 No. 2 Clemson  Cancelled  –
(–)		 Klöckner Stadium
Charlottesville, VA
September 19
6:00 p.m.		 No. 3 at Syracuse  Cancelled  –
(–)		 SU Soccer Stadium
Syracuse, NY
September 25
7:00 p.m.		 No. 3 Navy L 2–3 
Klöckner Stadium (0)
Charlottesville, VA
Regular season
October 9
7:00 p.m.		 No. 5 Louisville W 2–1 2OT 1–0–0
(1–0–0)		 Klöckner Stadium (177)
Charlottesville, VA
October 14
6:00 p.m.		 No. 5 at Virginia Tech
Commonwealth Clash		 T 1–1 2OT 1–0–1
(1–0–1)		 Thompson Field (130)
Blacksburg, VA
October 18
7:30 p.m.		 No. 5 No. 2 Pitt L 2–3 OT 1–1–1
(1–1–1)		 Klöckner Stadium (132)
Charlottesville, VA
October 24
1:00 p.m.		 at Notre Dame L 1–2 2OT 1–2–1
(1–2–1)		 Alumni Stadium (133)
South Bend, IN
October 30
1:00 p.m.		 Syracuse W 1–0  2–2–1
(2–2–1)		 Klöckner Stadium (160)
Charlottesville, VA
November 6
7:00 p.m.		 Virginia Tech
Commonwealth Clash		 L 0–1  2–3–1
(2–3–1)		 Klöckner Stadium (265)
Charlottesville, VA
ACC Tournament
November 15
4:00 p.m.		 (N4) at (S1) No. 2 Wake Forest
Quarterfinals		 W 2–0  3–3–1
 Spry Stadium (100)
Winston–Salem, NC
November 18
6:00 p.m., ACCN		 (N4) vs. (S3) No. 2 Clemson
Semifinals		 L 1–2  3–4–1
 Dorrance Field (50)
Chapel Hill, NC
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from United Soccer Coaches. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Awards and honors
Recipient Award Date Ref.
Colin Shutler ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week October 12, 2020 [12]
Andreas Ueland All-ACC Tournament Team November 22, 2020 [13]
Bret Halsey
Colin Shutler MAC Hermann Trophy Watchlist January 28, 2021 [14]

Rankings
Main article: 2020 NCAA Division I men's soccer rankings

Fall 2020
Ranking movement
Legend: ██ Improvement in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week. RV=Others receiving votes.
Poll Wk
1		 Wk
2		 Wk
3		 Wk
4		 Wk
5		 Wk
6		 Wk
7		 Wk
8		 Wk
9		 Final
United Soccer[15] 3 5 5 5

Spring 2021
Ranking movement
Legend: ██ Improvement in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week. RV=Others receiving votes.
Poll Pre Wk
1		 Wk
2		 Wk
3		 Wk
4		 Wk
5		 Wk
6		 Wk
7		 Wk
8		 Wk
9		 Wk
10		 Wk
11		 Wk
12		 Wk
13		 Wk
14		 Wk
15		 Wk
16		 Final
United Soccer[15] None Released
TopDrawer Soccer [16]


2021 MLS Super Draft
Main article: 2021 MLS SuperDraft
PlayerTeamRoundPick #Position
Brett HalseyReal Salt Lake17DF
Irakoze DonasiyanoNashville SC120FW
Daniel SteedmanAustin FC228FW
Nathan CroftsToronto FC245FW
Colin ShutlerFC Dallas248GK

Source:[17]

References
  1. "Historical Information". CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  2. Tilus, Spenser (August 6, 2020). "Cavaliers men's soccer announce 2020 signing class". WSET-TV. ABC 13 News. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  3. "Leonardo Afonso". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  4. "Jules Anderson". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  5. "Holden Brown". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  6. "Kaya Ignacio". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  7. "Christopher Scheipe". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  8. "2020 Men's Soccer Roster". virginiasports.com. University of Virginia. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  9. "2020 Men's Soccer Coaching Staff". virginiasports.com. University of Virginia. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  10. "Virginia Picked to Win ACC North Region". virginiasports.com. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  11. "2020–21 Men's Soccer Schedule". virginiasports.com. University of Virginia. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  12. "Petkovic, Shutler, Zattarin Earn ACC Men's Soccer Weekly Honors". theacc.com. The Atlantic Coast Conference. October 12, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  13. "Clemson Downs Pitt, 2-1, to Win ACC Men's Soccer Championship". theacc.com. The Atlantic Coast Conference. November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  14. "2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch Lists Announced". unitedsoccercoaches.org. United Soccer Coaches. January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  15. "NCAA DI Men's National Rankings". National Soccer Coaches Association of America. November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  16. "College Soccer National Rankings". TopDrawer Soccer. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  17. "2021 MLS SuperDraft Tracker". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
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