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AUGUST 2023 23 MEN'S SOCCER PREVIEW BY QUINN HULL F or the Virginia men's soccer team, the 2022 campaign was a season- long journey to put the program back amongst the nation's best. Greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it had been two seasons without an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for UVA — prior to 2020, Virginia had made 39 consecutive NCAA Tourna- ments dating back to 1980. The Cavaliers accomplished their goal. Playing the toughest-rated schedule in the nation, they stock- piled quality wins over the best that NCAA men's soccer had to offer — including road wins over Pitt and the eventual NCAA champions, Syracuse. The team soared up the polls en route to not only a return to the NCAA Tour- nament, but a top-four national seed. Though Virginia had reclaimed its status as a force to be reckoned with, there is still more progress to be made. The Cavaliers' run came to an end by the slimmest of margins in consecutive shootout losses. The first came in the ACC Championship semi- finals to Syracuse, the second in the NCAA second round at the hands of Marshall, the 2020 NCAA champions. "For me, [the 2022 season] is a building block," UVA head coach George Gelnovatch said. "This is simi- lar to 2018, where we're revamping and retooling for a run, and that could be next year for us." The 2023 squad features plenty of familiar faces that were crucial to Virginia's success a season ago. Multi-year captain Leo Afonso returns for his fourth-year season providing stability to a potent attack. Afonso has led the Cavaliers in scoring each of the past two seasons, tallying 18 points in consecutive years. Also returning to the fold is third-year forward Kome Ubogu, who netted 6 goals a season ago, tied for second on the team. On the flanks, UVA returns a pair of elec- trifying outside backs in Paul Wiese and Reese Miller. Wiese enters his third-year season while Miller looks to build off an impressive debut campaign. Miller, a sec- ond-year out of Houston, scored a pair of game-winning goals for Virginia last season — both coming against College Cup semifi- nalist Pitt. Sound in their defensive ability, Wiese and Miller both excel in the attacking third as well, providing the Cavaliers with an added threat in wide areas. The Cavaliers also welcome back a trio of 2022 transfers who proved to be vital additions last season. In the center of the park, creative fourth-year midfielders Axel Ahlander and Daniel Mangarov return to or- chestrate the attack, while towering fourth- year center back Aidan O'Connor is set to anchor the Virginia back line. There are, however, notable departures. At the top of that list is Andreas Ueland, a four- year starter at center back who was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. Ueland was selected 68th overall by the New England Revolution in the Major League Soc- cer SuperDraft and has since signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Chicago Fire FC II. Philip Horton also departed the Virginia pro- gram after four years spent in Charlottesville. Second only to Afonso with 15 points in 2022, Horton now plays for FC Cincinnati 2. "We certainly had a few positions that we needed to replace and reinforce," Gelnovatch said. "We are confident this [2023 recruiting class] not only fills those positional needs but provides us with exceptional depth." The 2023 class is an impressive one — ranking among the top five nationally accord- ing to Top Drawer Soccer. Virginia welcomes 15 newcomers to Charlottesville, including six transfers who have proven their talents in college soccer. Among those is Mouha- meth Thiam. An All-Pac-12 selection as a midfielder at Oregon State, Thiam arrives at Virginia after leading the Beavers in goals (5), assists (4) and points (14) a season ago. Virginia also welcomes a dazzling group of first-years to Grounds. The incoming class features names like forward Cesar Cordova (Houston Dynamo 2), midfielder Brendan Lambe (Atlanta United 2) and forward Stephen Annor Gyamfi (SIMA Gold), who all competed at the highest level before joining the college ranks. The season is set to begin on Aug. 24 when the Cavaliers take on Iona on their home field at Klöckner Stadium. Once again, Virginia's schedule features some of the top teams in the nation, including seven that saw NCAA Tournament action in 2022. "The schedule is tough," Gelnovatch said. "We will face incredibly talented opponents on a weekly basis, but we are really excited about an excellent group of guys in our locker room who are up for the challenge." Virginia Looks To Build On Last Year's Success 2023 SCHEDULE Date Opponent Time (ET) Aug. 24 Iona 6 p.m. Aug. 27 Loyola Marymount 7 p.m. Aug. 31 George Mason 8 p.m. Sept. 4 Maryland 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at Duke* 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at James Madison 7 p.m. Sept. 16 NC State* 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Notre Dame* 7 p.m. Sept. 26 East Tennessee State 7 p.m. Sept. 29 Louisville* 7 p.m. Oct. 3 Hofstra 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at Boston College* 7 p.m. Oct. 13 Pitt* 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at Virginia Tech* 6 p.m. Oct. 24 High Point 7 p.m. Oct. 27 North Carolina* 7 p.m. * ACC match Fourth-year forward Leo Afonso has led the Cavaliers in scoring each of the past two seasons, tallying 18 points in consecutive years. (Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVA)