Tigers stop Cavs

There was trepidation in George Gelnovatch’s voice before his squad faced Clemson on Saturday night at Klockner Stadium.

Yes, Gelnovatch knew his team had won five of its six games this year, including an upset of No. 2 Wake Forest last week.

Yes, Gelnovatch understood that Clemson hadn’t won a game this season — in six attempts.

And, yes Gelnovatch was well aware that his team had handled the Tigers last season.

But Gelnovatch figured Clemson would be “hungry.”

Unfortunately for 812 rain-soaked Virginia fans, some of whom were likely looking for a respite from the school’s troubled football program, Gelnovatch was right.

Clemson, thanks to a slightly fluky goal late in the first half by Mike Mattson, shocked No. 11 UVa, 1-0, to notch its first win of the season.

“Anytime you lose, you don’t feel good about it.” said Gelnovatch, whose team’s three-game winning streak was snapped. “It’s disappointing as hell. That’s all you can say about it.”

Virginia goalie Diego Restrepo said Clemson’s desire to get off the schneid was palpable.

“It was obvious that they were going to come in here and try to fight,” Restrepo said. “They’re very physical and have a lot of seniors on the squad who hadn’t won a game.

“Everybody knew they were going to play. Everybody wants to come into Klockner and win.”

“Teams get up to play us,” added Virginia senior Ross LaBauex.

The game was played in a steady rain, which appeared to make conditions somewhat sketchy.

Clemson (1-5-1, 1-2) scored the game-winner in the 41st minute when Mattson headed home a free kick from Connor Barbaree.

“The weather conditions made it tough to play the ball on the ground,” Gelnovatch said. “We felt like a goal would be scored on a ball, in the box, in the air — on a restart or corner or scramble in the box — and sure enough [that’s what happened.]”

The goal was just the fourth surrendered by Restrepo all season.

“It was unfortunate,” said Restrepo, who had two saves on the night. “Nine out of 10 times, that doesn’t happen. It was frustrating for me and for the team…losing on a goal like that is not fun.”

Gelnovatch said he wasn’t exactly sure who was at fault on the play.

“I’ll have to look at the tape and see whose assignment that was,” he said. “Somebody didn’t stay with [Mattson] and he got his head on the ball.

“Having said that, with the rain, we felt like that’s the way the game was going to be won today. They took advantage of their one chance. They never really got dangerous on us.”

Virginia, which outshot Clemson 16-7 and held a 7-4 edge in corner kicks, fought hard to get the equalizer down the stretch. The Cavs had plenty of chances but just couldn’t finish plays.

LaBauex didn’t think the weather wasn’t that much of a factor.

“We had some good opportunities,” LaBauex said. “Just at some key spots, the ball kind of got stuck between people’s feet.”

UVa (5-2-0, 1-2-0) has now suffered both its losses at home this season — a place where they have dominated in years past.

“We’ll have to rest up,” Gelnovatch said, “and get ready for a tough VCU game [on Tuesday].”