Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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cavalier sports FEBRUARY 2020 11 this month in uva history Feb. 28, 2013 Exactly 11 years after its last win over a top-five team, the UVA men's basketball team knocked off the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils 73-68 at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers were led by third-year guard JOE HARRIS' ca- reer-high 36 points and third-year for- ward Akil Mitchell's 19 points and 12 rebounds. The pair scored the team's first 16 points of the second half and held off a Duke comeback to capture a monumental, court-storming win. 3 UVA men's soccer players — second-year striker Daryl Dike, third-year defender Henry Kessler and fourth-year defender/midfielder Robin Afamefuna were selected in the first two rounds of the MLS SuperDraft, marking the first time in program history that has happened. Dike and Kessler were selected back-to-back as the fifth and sixth overall picks, while Afamefuna went 37th overall in round two. Virginia has now had 25 players drafted, including nine in the first round. 4 UVA women's soccer players — second-year forward/ midfielder Rebecca Jarrett, second-year forward/mid- fielder Alexa Spaanstra, first-year forward Diana Ordonez and first-year defender Talia Staude — were called up to compete for the U-20 United States National Team in the 2019 Nike International Friendlies against Brazil and France Dec. 11 and Dec. 13 at Lakewood Ranch, Fla. 6 Interceptions for former Cavalier safety Anthony Harris of the Minnesota Vikings, which tied for the most in the NFL this year. Harris, who finished the 2019 regular season as Pro Football Focus' top-rated safety, also intercepted Drew Brees in the Vikings' 26-20 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs. 9 Steals by first-year guard Shemera Williams in the Virginia women's basketball squad's 66-63 win over Duke Jan. 9, the most in any one game this season by an ACC player and one shy of the program record. Williams, who was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Tamika Catch- ings Freshman of the Week Jan. 14, had 19 steals in her first eight ACC games — an average of 2.4 thefts per outing, which ranked fifth in the league. She was averaging 2.0 steals per game in 11 total contests. 10 Was where the UVA men's tennis team was slotted in the Oracle/ITA Division I Men's Tennis team preseason rankings. 19.6 Points per game aver- aged by fourth-year women's basketball forward JOCELYN WILLOUGHBY during Virginia's 7-12 start, which led the Atlantic Coast Conference and 25th nationally through Jan. 23. 30.9 Was the NBA's rookie-best minutes per game De'Andre Hunter was averaging through Jan. 21 in his first season with the Atlanta Hawks. 1992 Was the last time the UVA men's soccer program claimed a program-best four spots on the United Soccer Coaches Association All-America teams. Third-year midfielder Joe Bell and third-year goalkeeper Colin Shutler were listed on the first team, while Henry Kessler was on the second team and Daryl Dike landed on the third team in 2019. Brandon made everyone associated with our program better during his time in Charlottesville, and I know he will have the same positive impact on people as a professional tennis player. There is no question that Brandon has a very bright future ahead of him and I look forward to watching him achieve his goals on the ATP Tour." — Virginia director of tennis and men's tennis coach Andres Pedroso on second- year Brandon Nakashima leaving UVA to pursue a professional tennis career DID YOU KNOW? Third-year field hockey standout Rachel Robin- son was recently named to the 2020 U.S. Wom- en's Junior National Team. Robinson had a stel- lar season as a Cavalier, recording five goals and four assists, including a pair of game-winners against top-25 foes Penn State and Duke. The first-team All-American has competed on the U.S. junior national team, but this will be her first nod to the senior squad. The Mount Joy, Pa., native joins a star-studded list of eight Cavaliers to ever play for the U.S. team. PHOTO BY JIM DAVES/COURTESY UVA PHOTO COURTESY UVA