UVA senior midfielder ruled ineligible

Ari Dimas Ruled Ineligible for Remainder of UVa Soccer Season

Participation in Club Soccer Counted Toward His Eligibility

University of Virginia soccer player Ari Dimas (Courtesy of UVa)

Charlottesville, VA – The Virginia athletics department announced today that senior midfielder Ari Dimas (Chesapeake, Va.) is ineligible to compete for the remainder of the 2012 season. 

In 2008, as a first year student and non-varsity student-athlete at the University, Dimas played for the men’s club soccer team. Dimas joined the varsity team in 2009 as a walk-on. 

According to NCAA bylaws, the year of participation with the club program counted as a year of varsity competition since the institution sponsored the sport of men’s soccer on the varsity intercollegiate level.

Dimas played for the Cavaliers in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. By NCAA bylaws, his eligibility expired following the conclusion of the 2011 season.

Dimas’ participation in the first six matches this season (two exhibition, four regular season) will not result in a change of the outcome of any of those contests. The athletics department has been fined $3000 by the NCAA for his participation in those six contests.

Dimas played in 59 matches during his career, starting 48 games. He played in all six of UVa’s matches this season prior to last Tuesday’s contest against Mount Saint Mary’s. He scored four goals in his career – all game winners – and added six assists. 

Dimas was a starter on UVa’s 2009 national championship team and scored the winning goal in the Cavaliers’ 2009 NCAA Tournament third round match against Portland. He graduated from the University last May with a double major in sociology and philosophy. 

In 2011 he was named to the All-ACC Academic Soccer Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll.

He will continue his graduate courses with hopes of pursuing a master’s degree in commerce. Dimas will serve as a volunteer coach for the remainder of the season.