Cavaliers’ well-positioned for soccer title run in 2010
By Michael Phillips
Published: December 15, 2009
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As the Virginia soccer team gathered at midfield for a team photo with the national championship trophy, a yell came out from the back row.

"This one's for U-Hall."

Instead of shying away from the pressure of a 15-year championship drought, this year's Cavs embraced the team's rich history, vowing to add their photo to a wall in University Hall devoted to the school's past national-title winners.

With school legends Bruce Arena and Claudio Reyna lending their support, the team did just that -- winning Virginia's sixth soccer title. It was the first for coach George Gelnovatch, but a glance at the roster indicates it might not be the last.

The thousands of fans on hand for Sunday's College Cup final were on the edge of their seats for 110 minutes of heart-pounding excitement. So why not do it again?

Virginia and Akron will return virtually their entire lineups, meaning a championship rematch could be more than just wishful thinking.

Three U.Va. starters will graduate -- midfielders Neil Barlow, Ross LaBauex and Jonathan Villanueva -- in addition to Jordan Evans (Thomas Dale), who was a significant contributor in the title game.

Perhaps most important is the future of Diego Restrepo. The goalkeeper was brilliant in the final months, anchoring the best defense in America. He's only a junior, but his performance undoubtedly will have pro teams knocking on his door.

Most shocking of all was that Restrepo didn't even draw consideration for the sport's top awards and went unrecognized on the All-America teams.

"I'd rather win a national championship than just individual awards," he said. "I'll remember this for the rest of my life. There's going to be another star on that crest, and I'll take that any day over an individual award."

Other players offered similar thoughts, as only midfielder Tony Tchani received recognition, getting first-team honors.

Gelnovatch said it was a product of the team's slow start -- the Cavs lost all three of their exhibition games and didn't find their groove until mid-October.

"We weren't firing on all cylinders," he said. "This All-American stuff, a lot of it is based on people who see you in the first half of the season."

The coach credited the team for sticking together through the lean times -- starting with a 1-0 home loss to Clemson. He said that he could feel things turning around after the Cavs allowed a goal to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, then came back to win 3-1.

It was the last goal Restrepo allowed until an own goal Friday against Wake Forest.

"There were parts of the season where, back in the far parts of your head, you're wondering," Gelnovatch said. "But nobody was looking at each other funny. We kept staying the course."

The course took them all the way to penalty kicks against Akron, after fending off the Zips' attack for most of the two overtime periods.

Since the start of the postseason, Virginia has devoted about 25 minutes of every practice to the shootouts -- allowing players to take five shots a piece, and then tabbing the best shooters for the game-time lineup.

That lineup wasn't assembled until the final minutes of the second overtime, when the coaching staff turned its attention to what was coming next.

After wrapping up the celebration, the Cavs will turn their attention to 2010, where they again will be one of the nation's top-ranked teams. Akron will as well, though coach Caleb Porter is interviewing for the head coaching job with MLS team D.C. United.

As the Cavs get back to work, they'll walk through the hallway of champions in U-Hall, where they'll find their faces staring back at them.

UVa’s many happy returns
By Whitey Reid
Published: December 15, 2009
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For a sports team, the bus ride home following a game can run the gamut of emotions. There can be good rides, bad rides, nondescript rides. They all depend on the game’s outcome.

On Sunday, the Virginia men’s soccer team had a bus ride for the ages.

A dramatic win over Akron in the NCAA championship game had everything to do with it. With a shootout victory after a scoreless game, Virginia claimed the program’s sixth NCAA title and its first since 1994.

In the process, Cavalier seniors Ross LaBauex, Neil Barlow and Jonathan Villanueva atoned for a painful defeat to UCLA in the College Cup back in 2006 when they were freshmen.

“It was something that you’ll remember for the rest of your life,” said LaBauex,

referring to the joyous ride back to Charlottesville from Cary, N.C. “We were dancing and singing ... it was just awesome. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

“It was great. To end the way we did — all our seniors, especially after such a long time of UVa not winning a championship. It’s everything that you always hoped and dreamed for.”

Villanueva, who had two assists in the Cavaliers’ semifinal win over Wake Forest was named the College Cup’s most outstanding offensive player, while Diego Restrepo, who posted his school record-extending 16th shutout of the season, was named the College Cup’s most outstanding defensive player.

Joining them on the all-tournament team were Brian Ownby, Mike Volk and Tony Tchani.

It was Ownby, the substitute, who came up huge in the win over Wake Forest. The sophomore took a beautiful feed from Villanueva and one-timed a shot into the net for the game-winner in overtime.

Against Akron, there were several nail-biting moments in the shootout.

Tchani opened with a goal for Virginia and the Cavaliers took an early advantage when Restrepo stopped Akron’s first kick taken by Zarek Valentin.

After Ari Dimas and the Zips’ Ben Zemanski both converted their attempts in round two, the Cavaliers led 2-1. That lead was extended to 3-1 as Sean Hiller — inserted off the bench by Gelnovatch for his PK prowess — made his kick and Akron’s Kofi Sarkodie sent his off the post.

In the fourth round, Villanueva had a chance to clinch the title, but Akron keeper David Meves made a save and the Zips’ Scott Caldwell converted the ensuing attempt to keep Akron alive.

Greg Monaco had Virginia’s second attempt for a championship, but Meves came up big again.

Blair Gavin had the fifth attempt for Akron and needed to convert to force extra kicks, but his shot sailed over the bar to give Virginia the title.

LaBauex said he felt for Akron.

“It’s the worst way to lose,” he said. “Akron’s a good team who fought really hard.

“But our shooters were really confident and we knew we had a good chance.”

While things turned out just dandy for Virginia, LaBauex said that if it was up to him, he wouldn’t have shootouts in the NCAA tournament. He said he would take a page out of the field hockey rulebook.

“After you play the two overtimes, you should take another player off the field,” he said. “If you do that, the game can open up more. That could be a potential thing they could think about.”

The championship was the second of Virginia’s six titles to be decided in penalty kicks. The Cavaliers won the 1991 title in a shootout over Santa Clara after a scoreless draw. That game was the last time the NCAA final had a scoreless draw and needed penalty kicks to determine the winner.

On Monday, it was back to reality for Virginia players, who had to finish taking their exams.

“It was so weird,” said LaBauex of the team’s return to campus. “You’re at such a high. They tell you to try and do work when you’re there, but I can’t really do work when I’m trying to concentrate on soccer.”

After completing their schoolwork, LaBauex, Barlow and Villanueva will begin preparing for the MLS combine and draft in early January.
 

Richmond native Scott under consideration for UR job
By John O'Connor
Published: December 15, 2009
Updated: December 15, 2009
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Past success could lead to the University of Richmond's next football coach.

Former Spiders assistant Latrell Scott, a Richmond native and graduate of Lee-Davis High School, is being considered for the position that opened when Mike London moved to the University of Virginia last week.

Scott, 34, spent 2005-07 as Richmond's wide receivers coach, and was the Spiders' recruiting coordinator 2006-07. Before the 2007 season, former Spiders coach Dave Clawson named Scott assistant head coach. Scott, who attended Fork Union Military Academy and Hampton University (Class of 1999), is viewed as a top-notch recruiter. The former HU tight end worked on the Virginia staff this season and was an offensive assistant at FUMA, Western Carolina and VMI before coming to UR. Scott was a member of the Tennessee staff in 2008.

"I think Latrell is highly ready, highly prepared," said John Shuman, the coach of the postgraduate program at FUMA. "I would imagine he'll take 99 percent of [Clawson's] offense that was in place when Dave was there and [Scott] was the receivers coach.

"He knows a lot of people, so there's no doubt he could bring in a good, young, energized type of staff. And you're talking about a young man who was born and raised in the Richmond area. He knows all the coaches in the Richmond area."

Colgate's Dick Biddle, one of the FCS' most accomplished coaches, yesterday said he finds the UR job "very appealing" but added he hasn't been contacted by UR. Colgate teams coached by Biddle, 61, are 113-51 in 14 seasons. Six won Patriot League championships. "I'd be flattered and I'd be very interested," Biddle said of the UR job.

Scott was highly instrumental in recruiting many of the players who helped the Spiders qualify for the FCS playoffs each of the past three seasons. UR won the 2008 national championship and shared Colonial Athletic Association championships this season and in 2007. Richmond "obviously had success with Mike London, a respected African-American coach, and I think this young man is cut from the same mold," Shuman said. "He's classy. He knows how to sell the University of Richmond, obviously. He knows how to close the deal on some great recruits."

When Clawson left UR to become the offensive coordinator at Tennessee for 2008, he brought Scott with him. Scott yesterday chose not to comment on the UR opening. Richmond Athletic Director Jim Miller has not commented on candidates.

Also under consideration is Vic Shealy, UR's defensive coordinator. Biddle, a Duke graduate and Virginia Tech assistant during the mid-'80s, four times has been named Patriot League coach of the year.

"Richmond is one of the best I-AA jobs in the country," said the West Virginia native. "You'd have scholarships, and we don't have scholarships [at Colgate]. It's a great area too."

Harrell turning heads
By Whitey Reid
Published: December 15, 2009
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It took former Virginia coach Dave Leitao three years to reel in a high school McDonald’s All-American — Sylven Landesberg.

There’s a chance UVa coach Tony Bennett may have landed one in his very first recruiting go-round.

K.T. Harrell, a 6-foot-4 guard from Montgomery, Ala., who signed with Virginia in November, is starting to get consideration for the coveted status, according to his father, Rodney.

“He’s doing really, really good,” Rodney Harrell said. “We’ve had some folks call from the McDonald’s All-American committee.

“[But] we don’t really look at a lot of that. We’re really, really excited about college and him finishing up his senior year and just really getting through it healthy. That’s the biggest thing for us, so that he can just get ready for college. I think he’ll report early for school and is just really, really excited about Virginia.”

Harrell has gotten off to an explosive start this season, averaging about 29 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists per contest for Brewbaker Tech Magnet School.

Harrell, who chose Virginia over Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi State, is the highest rated recruit in Bennett’s inaugural five-member class that also includes Joe Harris, James Johnson, Akil Mitchell and Will Regan. The class is ranked 15th in the country and fifth in the ACC.

According to Rivals.com, Harrell is a 4-star prospect (out of 5) and the 35th-best player overall.

By comparison, Landesberg, back in 2008, was ranked as the 66th-best prospect in the country (and also a 4-star recruit).

Of course, there’s a strong chance that Harrell’s rating will increase further if he keeps playing like he has. Harrell’s stock has skyrocketed since an impressive AAU summer performance, which came on the heels of having to sit out his junior season because of a transfer rule.

A video of Harrell that can be seen on YouTube is pretty impressive. Harrell has deep 3-point range, but also displays great athleticism in getting to the basket and finishing strong at the rim.

Harrell told The Daily Progress he can’t wait to get to Charlottesville. He hasn’t seen any Virginia games in person this season, but watched the recent Penn State contest on television.

“I could see myself playing on that team and being in coach Bennett’s offense,” he said. “I just love the way he coaches — how he keeps his composure even when they’re down.”

Harrell, believe it or not, committed to Virginia over the summer without ever visiting the campus.

“I can’t really explain it,” he said. “I think it was just something that God was trying to tell me.

“Tony Bennett, just the way he talked about God and the way that he said he wanted to play — it made me feel real comfortable around him, and the relationship just grew and I decided I just really wanted to play for him.”

As Harrell has become more well-known within recruiting circles, he says his decision to attend Virginia has been questioned.

“A lot of people have asked me, ‘What if North Carolina or somebody like that had [offered]?’” he said.

“I tell them that I’m at the school I want to be at. Growing up, I was a Duke fan, I have to admit. I just loved ACC basketball. But trust me, I’m not a Duke fan anymore. It’s all about Virginia.”

Rodney Harrell said being part of building something new under Bennett at UVa was important. “My biggest thing was go somewhere where they really need you — not just somewhere where you’re just another body,” he said.

The Harrell family is originally from Virginia. Rodney was born in Portsmouth, while his wife is from Roanoke. Just after K.T. signed with UVa, the couple discovered an old picture of him from when he was about 6 months old. A young K.T. — his initials stand for Keylon Tobias — was wearing a Virginia hat.

“It was crazy seeing myself with that hat on,” Harrell said.

About as crazy as being named a McDonald’s All-American this spring would be.

“Hopefully,” Harrell said. “I’m not playing trying to make McDonald’s All-American. That’s not really important to me. I’m just trying to help my team win.

“But if that comes with winning the state championship, that would definitely be a blessing. I’d definitely be happy about that.”