UVa hopes to continue winning trend

Capitalizing on scoring chances has been the Virginia men’s soccer team’s biggest bugaboo this season. UVa has frequently outshot and outplayed its opponent, only to find itself on the losing or tying end of games.
That’s what made the Cavaliers’ 3-1 win in Blacksburg over Virginia Tech on Saturday so gratifying for George Gelnovatch. The UVa coach saw his team score three goals for the first time since the season-opening victory over Portland.
“We’re right back in the thick of things in the conference,” said Gelnovatch, whose squad is 4-1 on the road this season. “The good thing for me is scoring three goals…I felt like that was coming.
“We’re just going to stay the course and keep getting better. I think that’s the key to the conference this year. I think it will come down to who’s getting better and who can stay healthy.”
Tonight, Virginia (8-3-1, 2-3) plays host to Howard at Klockner Stadium in what figures to be a tune-up for a home game versus Boston College on Sunday. The Eagles are coming off an upset of No. 2-ranked North Carolina on Saturday.
Howard (2-9-2), meanwhile, is winless in its last seven games. During that stretch, the Bison have scored just one goal.
One of the bright spots for Virginia of late has been the play of forward Will Bates. Against Tech, the freshman from Chester scored two goals. Bates is now tied for the team lead with Neil Barlow — they each have four.
“He had some spells of some pretty good stuff…our hope is that he can turn into a little more of a 90-minute guy,” Gelnovatch said. “Two of his last three goals have just been
scrappy, second-effort ones in front of the goal, which we had not had. He’s big and strong, but also a guy in the box who is scrappy, for lack of a better word.
“If he can pick up some more goals like that, we’ll be better off.”
With last year’s leading scorer Tony Tchani mired in somewhat of a sophomore slump, Bates’ play has been well-timed. Tchani played sparingly in the recent tie against Liberty.
“We’re trying to get Tony to be at his best,” Gelnovatch said. “I feel like there are times during the year — I’ve been there as a player myself — where taking a step back and being on the bench for a while, and watching what’s going on and what the coaches are asking is good for you.
“He responded and had a very good game for us on Saturday.”
With just five games remaining before the ACC tournament, Gelnovatch is hoping Tchani, and the rest of his troops, can keep things going.