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behind the scenes UVA WOMEN'S SOCCER IN PANAMA giate women's soccer players is to compete in the Under-20 World Cup. Two members of the Virginia soccer team and head coach Steve Swanson trav- eled to Panama in March for the 2012 Under-20 CONCACAF Championships. Swanson is serving as the U-20 head coach, One of the significant honors available for colle- while first-year midfielder Morgan Brian and first- year defender Olivia Brannon were among the 20 players selected for the U.S. squad. For the young women who earn the right to participate like Brannon and Brian, the event is not only about the competition, it's also about playing for the USA. "Every time you put on a United States jersey or you wear the crest for your country, you're play- ing for your country — it means so much and allows all the hard work to pay off, grown up with a lot of the girls that are playing on the team and we're best friends, and it's fun to compete with your best friends and play for your country. " Brian said. "I've In the finale held at Estadio Rommel Fernandez " in Panama City, the U.S. team trailed Canada for 79 minutes before knotting the championship game at 1-1. Swanson and his U.S. team secured the title game in the final minute of play when Chioma Ubogagu broke away from two defend- ers and hit a cross shot in the corner of the goal for the 2-1 victory. By finishing in the top three of the CONCACAF Championships, the U.S. qualified for the 2012 U-20 World Cup. That event will run Aug. 19-Sept. 8 in various cities in Japan. "It was a thrill for us to win. It was a tough game, a very difficult game," Swanson said after the vic- tory over Canada. "We played some good soccer throughout the game. That was probably our best stretch of soccer that we've played in the tourna- ment, which I was proud of. We found ourselves down 1-0, but we showed a lot of determination, heart and grit to get back in it. To win it with that little time left is a great feeling right now and gives us a lot of momentum into our next camp. "I was on a team two years ago that didn't qual- " ify for the World Cup, so beating Canada and qualifying for the World Cup were the biggest wahoo nation MITCHELL PATTERSON The UVa contingent of, from left to right, head coach Steve Swanson, Olivia Bran- non, Morgan Brian and administrative operations assistant Jaime Frias cele- brated after helping the U.S. win the Under-20 CONCACAF Championships. PHOTO COURTESY UVA highlights of the trip," Brian added. World Cup team was scheduled for May 13-20 in Carson, Calif. The final camp to determine the U.S. U-20 — Greg Waters couple drives [three and a half hours] from Hanover, Pennsylvania, for every home game. "We're usually parked and putting up tables at 8 a.m. for an afternoon game. missed the games at Miami and Florida State. "I don't think we've missed a home game in 20 years. There's one other pertinent detail. "We attend 80 percent of the away games every year, at what is now Virginia State University in 1967 and his master's degree in adult education and agricultural extension in 1973 at Virginia Tech. (Patterson: "There isn't any love lost between the two. from Virginia Commonwealth. But their daughter, Wendy Patterson Prescott ('90), did graduate from UVa. Besides holding season tickets for football, they also have season tickets for Alverta received her bachelor's degree from Virginia State and her master's ") men's basketball. But since neither attended UVa, the obvious question is what prompted them to become so attracted to its teams? "When you got to a major football atmosphere like Virginia where you have 50,000 people, it's such a contrast in the quality of play that we began to gravi- tate toward Virginia and Division I football, going toward Virginia under [then-head coach] George Welsh was we became aware of Virginia's commitment to the student-athlete. "This is important to both of us because Alverta is a retired school teacher. We're really committed to the student-athlete. We're concerned about the total " Patterson said. "What really got us 10 ◆ CAVALIER CORNER What's really noteworthy is that neither Mitchell nor Alverta attended Virginia. Mitchell earned his undergraduate degree in agriculture and animal science " " Patterson continued, "we're the first ones there." How dedicated to Virginia football are Mitchell Patterson and his wife, Alverta? This dedicated: "Alverta and I plus two other couples tailgate together, " Patterson said. "One If it's a 7 p.m. game, we're going to be tailgating by noon. We get there and talk football plus the greatness of Virginia. We may have breakfast, lunch and dinner, and snacks after the game. "Usually, " he said. "Last year, we Patterson and his wife, Alverta, were attracted to UVa football because of the school's commitment to the student-athlete. PHOTO COURTESY MITCHELL PATTERSON students. After four years, they were well-rounded individuals and great repre- sentatives of the university. "Not compared to any other specific school, Patterson said. "John St. Clair has a foundation. "They've played in the NFL and are still good ambassadors of the university — and they've given back." That's especially true of some Cavaliers who've gone on to play in the NFL. "We look at Thomas Jones, who has a scholarship fund in southwest Virginia, Florida State in 1995. "There was a feeling on campus from the beginning that carried into the sta- dium," Patterson said. "You could feel something special was going to happen." — Mike Scandura development of the student-athlete. "It didn't take us long to realize the athletes under Coach Welsh were really clear to us is at Virginia they emphasize the total development of the student- athlete. After they graduate, you see them come back and contribute. " Patterson continued, "but what's " " Not surprisingly, the Patterson's favorite football memory was UVa's upset of