Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1398241
cavalier sports 8 CAVALIER CORNER S ydney Zandi is entering her fifth season with the Virginia women's soccer team, and when she steps on the pitch for the 2021 season it will be the first time in 322 days for the midfielder to take the field for the Cavaliers. Zandi saw the 2020 season come to an end for her in the second half of Virginia's match against then-No. 14 Pittsburgh — a game that was tied 1-1 at the time and that the Cavaliers would go on to win 2-1 in overtime. The injury was the first of this nature for Zandi, who had played 3,688 minutes through 71 matches in the previous four years. Watching from the sidelines was hard for the West Chester, Pa., native — but it fueled her rehab after she made the decision to return to the squad for a fifth season this fall. "It was obviously difficult to get injured in the middle of the sea- son, but I was really happy with the team's outcome at the end of the spring," said Zandi, who watched the unseeded Cavaliers advance to the College Cup where they lost to No. 1-seeded Florida State in the semifinals on a penalty kick shootout after 110 scoreless minutes of play. "It made me want to work harder to get back on the field. "I'm so excited for the season. I'm feeling good. The body is feel- ing good. Overall, I'm just so excited." A leader in the midfield throughout her time on Grounds, Zandi has appeared in 71 career games, scored seven goals and notched five assists for the Cavaliers. Perhaps nothing displayed her ability to make plays more than the Cavaliers' match at No. 8-ranked Penn State in 2019. The Nittany Lions had just tied the match in the 85th minute and on the ensuing kickoff, Virginia played the ball down the right side and into the box where Zandi had slashed her way through the de- fense to be in position to clean up the initial chance and give the Hoos a 2-1 lead. At 26 seconds, the score was the second-fastest answering goal by a Cavalier in program history. "Sydney is such a valuable member of our team as both a player and a leader," Virginia head coach Steve Swanson said. "She is a very creative player who can unlock defenses with her ability to solve pressure and create space for herself with the ball. She can also create goals for herself and others. "No doubt, she is one of the best midfielders in the country, and we could not be more excited to have her back with us this fall." — Bill Bunting getting to know Redshirt Fourth-Year Women's Soccer Player Sydney Zandi Zandi, who suffered a season-end- ing injury last October, has notched seven goals and five assists during her UVA career. PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA In late June, the NCAA adopted an interim policy suspend- ing its name, image and likeness (NIL) rules for all incoming and current student-athletes in all sports. This opened the door for college athletes to benefit financially immediately. NCAA members not regulated by state laws quickly announced their own policies for their student-athletes including Virginia. "We've been planning since before the pandemic," Virginia athletics director Carla Williams said. "We're working with our partners on Grounds, and also we partner with influencers to help our student-athletes through this process. Anyone that tells you they have figured it out, I'm not quite sure about that. We're learning along the way and hopefully it will be a good thing." Student-athletes at Virginia are permitted to use their NIL for commercial purposes with some limitations. Unlike some other universities, that includes trademarks and logos, insti- tutional facilities and institutionally issued uniforms and ap- parel as long as the use has been approved by the University through a review/approval process that involves the athletics compliance office. Also, the usage cannot violate NCAA rules. One key to UVA's policy is that student-athletes cannot earn NIL compensation unless the student-athlete actually performs work pursuant to the NIL agreement. They are also not permitted to be compensated for NIL opportunities while participating in official team activities, which include practice, competition, travel, community service, promotional activi- ties or an athletic department meeting or event. Social media activity related to NIL is allowed during those team activities. There are limits the athletics department has established regard- ing NIL for its student-athletes. That includes compensation from any person, company or organization related to or associated with casinos or gambling, including sports betting; alcohol products; adult entertainment; cannabis, cannabinoids, cannabidiol or other derivatives; dangerous or controlled substances; performance- enhancing drugs or substances; drug paraphernalia; tobacco and electronic smoking products and devices; or weapons. UVA may also preclude a student-athlete from engaging in NIL activities that conflict with existing institutional arrangements. To assist in monitoring these NIL opportunities, UVA has part- nered with INFLCR to provide a venue for student-athletes to submit their NIL activities to the compliance office for review. INFLCR also offers educational resources about finance, brand- ing, entrepreneurship and networking. Student-athletes may additionally use an athlete agent, attorney or financial advisor. The ramifications of NIL also impact UVA staff and supporters. University and athletics staff or an entity (such as the Virginia Athletics Foundation) whose purpose includes supporting or benefitting the University or its athletic programs cannot directly or indirectly compensate, or cause to compensate, prospective or current student-athletes for their NIL. Further, they cannot advise, recommend, consult or assist a student-athlete in any manner, select an agent, lawyer, financial advisor, accountant, marketing agent, advisor or any other type of service provider. Compensation does not include an athletic scholarship. The University, the athletics department and donors are pro- hibited from using NIL opportunities as an inducement for ini- tial or continued attendance, or as a substitute for compensat- ing student-athletes for athletic performance or participation. "We strongly support student-athletes having the opportunity to earn income from the use of their name, image and likeness," UVA's director of compliance Jason Baum said. "If a donor wants to enter into a business arrangement with a prospective or current student-athlete, then he or she must remember that coaches and staff cannot be involved in any manner, compensation can only be provided for work actually performed, and the arrangement can- not be an inducement to attend UVA or a disguise for pay-for-play." — Jim Daves NIL COMES TO GROUNDS