Will Bates of UVA Selected by Seattle in MLS Supplemental Draft

Former University of Virginia men's soccer standout, Will Bates, was selected with the number five pick in today's MLS Supplemental Draft.

In his four year collegiate career, Bates scored 46 goals ranking him 7th all-time at the University of Virgina.

UVA Men Shutout Drexal 2-0

Virginia Men's Soccer Records 2-0 Victory Over Drexel

Wharton and Bates score for Cavaliers, while LaCivita makes six saves

 

 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s soccer team picked up a 2-0 win over Drexel on Tuesday evening at Klöckner Stadium. In wrapping up a six-match homestand, the Cavaliers (4-2-1) now are unbeaten in their last four matches. Drexel (3-2-1) had its three-match winning streak snapped.

“It was a hard-fought win,” UVa head coach George Gelnovatch said. “We knew Drexel would be a quality opponent. I thought we were very economical. We didn't put up a lot of shots up for the two goals. The two quality chances we had were two nice goals.”

Todd Wharton (Fr., Glen Allen, Va.) and Will Bates (Sr., Chester, Va.) each scored for the Cavaliers.

Virginia broke through for a goal in the 30th minute. After Bates slipped a pass through the defense near the edge of the box, Scott Thomsen (Fr., Brick, N.J.) tracked it down near the goal line and made a cut-back pass to the top of the box to find Wharton, who cranked a one-timer to the left side of the net for the score. It marked Wharton’s first college goal, while Thomsen earned his team-high third assist of the year.

The Cavaliers added an insurance goal in the 77th minute when Brian James (Fr., Sunrise, Fla.) sent a cross to Bates, who one-timed it from about 12 yards out off of Drexel goalkeeper Tim Washam and into the right corner of the net. The goal was Bates’ fifth this year and his 39th career score; the goal moved him into a ninth-place tie with Yannick Reyering (2005-07) on the all-time UVa goals ledger.

“I think the second goal kind of deflated them,” Gelnovatch said. “It took the air out of the game and took their energy away. That second goal really settled things down for us.”

Virginia goalkeeper Spencer LaCivita (So., Raleigh, N.C.) made six saves for the Cavaliers for his second shutout of the year, and Washam stopped two of the four shots on goal that he faced for Drexel.

While the Cavaliers out-shot Drexel 4-3 in the first half, the Dragons finished with a 13-8 shots edge. Drexel also took 11 corner kicks to one for UVa.

UVa plays its first true road game of the year at 7 p.m. Friday when it faces reigning national champion North Carolina in a nationally televised match in Chapel Hill. The contest will be broadcast live by FOX Soccer Channel.

UVA forward Caroline Miller Cadidate for Senior CLASS Award

Caroline Miller Named Candidate for Senior CLASS Award

Cavalier forward one of 30 women’s soccer candidates

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia forward Caroline Miller has been named one of 30 candidates for the 2012 Senior CLASS Award for Women’s Soccer, as announced Tuesday.

 

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

 

Miller is tied for the team lead with seven goals this season. The Rockville, Md., native ranks T-9th in school history with 32 career goals. Last season she was a first-team All-ACC selection and a third-team NSCAA All-American.

From the list of 30 candidates, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the 2012 Senior CLASS Award in early October. Those 10 names will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award, which will be presented during the Women’s College Cup in December.

UVA men host Drexel Tuesday

Virginia Men's Soccer Entertains Drexel at 7 p.m. Tuesday

Cavaliers and Dragons meet for first time in men’s soccer 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s soccer team wraps up a six-match homestand at 7 p.m. Tuesday when it plays Drexel at Klöckner Stadium. Virginia (3-2-1) is unbeaten in its last three matches.

Live Coverage

Live statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com.

Tickets

Single-game and season tickets for Virginia men's soccer currently are on sale through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office. 

To purchase tickets online, visit VirginiaSports.com/Tickets. In-person purchases can be made at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Telephone purchases can be made by calling 1-800-542-UVA1 (8821) or locally at 434-924-UVA1 (8821). 

Virginia-Xavier Recap

Virginia battled No. 19 Xavier to a 1-1 draw Friday evening. Brian James (Fr., Sunrise, Fla.) tallied the Cavaliers’ goal in the 67th minute for his first career score, but the Musketeers scored the equalizer with just over five minutes remaining in the second half to salvage a tie.

Virginia held a 15-12 advantage in shots and a 13-7 edge in corner kicks. The Cavaliers held a 3-2 shots advantage in the overtime periods in earning their first tie this year after losing their previous two overtime contests in the first OT session.

Noting the Cavaliers

• After scoring a hat trick last Tuesday in a win over Mount St. Mary’s, Will Bates (Sr., Chester, Va.) was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Team of the Week. 

• Bates leads the team with four goals and an assist for nine points. 

• Chris Somerville (So., West Chester, Pa.) and Zach Carroll (Fr., Grand Blanc, Mich.) each own a pair of goals for the Cavaliers.

• Virginia sophomore defender Kyler Sullivan (Stafford, Va.) returned to action against Mount St. Mary’s after missing the first four matches with mononucleosis; Sullivan played the entire second half against MSM, then went the distance in UVa’s double-overtime tie against Xavier on Friday.

• With his goal Friday against Xavier, James is the third UVa freshman to strike paydirt this year, joining Carroll and Darius Madison (Philadelphia, Pa.). 

Noting Drexel

Winners of three straight matches, Drexel enters the game with a 3-1-1 record after consecutive wins against Air Force (2-1), Lehigh (1-0) and Lafayette (1-0); Drexel last played on Sept. 12.

Drexel has had eight different goal scorers this year, although Matheus Goncalves is the lone player to have more than one; he owns two scores. Fabio Machado leads the team with six points off a goal and team-high four assists. 

Up Next

UVa plays its first true road game of the year at 7 p.m. Friday when it faces reigning national champion North Carolina in a nationally televised match in Chapel Hill. The contest will be televised live by FOX Soccer Channel.

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.

No. 8 Virginia Women Host Liberty Wednesday

Cavaliers Continue Homestand Wednesday Against Liberty

Virginia looks for second straight win over in-state competition

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The No. 8 Virginia women’s soccer team continues its season-opening four-game homestand Wednesday as it hosts Liberty. Game time at Klöckner Stadium is set for 7 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for adult general admission and $5 for youth, senior and faculty/staff general admission. Group tickets (20 or more) are $4.

Both teams enter the game with a 1-1 record. The Cavaliers dropped their season opener Friday to then-No. 8 Penn State, 3-1. They rebounded with a 5-0 victory over Radford on Sunday for their first win of the season. The Flames won 1-0 at Davidson on Friday in their season opener before falling 1-0 to Drexel in their home opener on Sunday.

Through two games, Virginia is led in scoring by first-year Makenzy Doniak (Chino Hills, Calif.), who has two goals and two assists. The Cavaliers’ six goals this season have been scored by five different players, as Kaili Torres (Fleming Island, Fla.), Danielle Colaprico (Freehold, N.J.), Gloria Douglas (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Kate Norbo (Roanoke, Va.) have also found the back of the net.

Virginia leads the all-time series 11-0-0, with all games coming at Klöckner Stadium. This season marks the 10th consecutive year that the teams have met. The Cavaliers have outscored the Flames 54-1 during the previous 11 meetings, with Liberty’s lone goal coming in last year’s 9-1 Virginia win.

Virginia concludes its homestand on Sunday as it hosts UNC Wilmington at 2 p.m. The Cavaliers make their first road trip of the season the following week as they travel to Austin, Texas, for the Longhorn Invitational where they will play Texas and SMU. 

Virginia Sophomore Morgan Brian named to USWNT U20 Team

Morgan Brian Named to U-20 World Cup Team

Cavalier sophomore midfielder to represent the United States in Japan

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia sophomore midfielder Morgan Brian (St. Simons Island, Ga.) was named to the United States team that will compete at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Brian is one of 21 players that will represent the U.S. at the event, which runs Aug. 19 to Sept. 8 in Japan.

In addition, two Cavaliers were named as alternates to the team. Sophomore defender Olivia Brannon (Troy, Mich.) and incoming first-year forward Makenzy Doniak (Chino Hills, Calif.) were placed on the alternate list. The head coach of the U-20 team is Virginia head coach Steve Swanson.

The U.S. plays its first two Group D matches at the Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium in Hiroshima, Japan, opening its tournament on Aug. 20 against Ghana (4 p.m. local/3 a.m. ET) before facing China on Aug. 23 (7 p.m. local/6 a.m. ET). The USA will finish group play on Aug. 27 against Germany in what will be an extremely rare meeting during group play between former Under-20 world champions. The clash between the women’s soccer powers, which have both won this tournament twice, takes place at Miyagi Stadium in the town of Rifu near Sendai at 4 p.m. local/3 a.m. ET.

Virginia Freshman Morgan Brian Named ACC Freshman of the Year

Add another award the the list of accolades Morgan Brian's bio. The Virginia freshman and former Gatorade Player of the Year award winner has now been named ACC Freshman of the Year.






GREENSBORO, N.C. – Virginia women’s soccer first-year midfielder Morgan Brian (St. Simons Island, Ga.) was named ACC Freshman of the Year as conference officials announced the all-conference awards on Thursday. In addition, she was named first-team All-ACC, as was junior forward Caroline Miller (Rockville, Md.). Brian also was one of three Cavaliers named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. 

Brian becomes the third Cavalier to be named ACC Freshman of the Year, along with Becky Sauerbrunn in 2003 and Jess Rostedt in 2005. She is the fourth Virginia first-year to be named first-team All-ACC, joining Megan Boehm and Angela Hucles in 1996, and Sinead Farrelly in 2007. Brian ranks second on the team in scoring this season, with eight goals and six assists for 22 points. Five of her goals and four of her assists came in ACC play, as did all three of her game-winning goals. 

Miller earned All-ACC honors for the first time in her career. She is tied for the conference lead with 14 goals and 32 points. Her 14 goals rank fifth on Virginia’s single-season goal scoring list, and she set a school record with seven goals in conference play. Miller leads the team with four game-winning goals, including two overtime golden goals. 

Brian was joined on the ACC All-Freshman Team by defender Olivia Brannon (Troy, Mich.) and midfielder Danielle Colaprico (Freehold, N.J.). Brannon has started all 19 games of her rookie season, ranking second among UVa field players with 1,733 minutes. Offensively, she has added two goals and one assist. Colaprico has appeared in all 19 games, starting three. She has three goals and two assists on the season.

The second-seeded Cavaliers will play sixth-seeded Florida State in the ACC semifinals on Friday night in Cary, N.C. Game time at WakeMed Soccer Park is 7:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast online by ESPN3.

Virginia Freshman Morgan Brian named one of Ten freshmen of influence



property of ESPN.com

University of Virginia Freshman player Morgan Brian has been named to the Soccer America 'Ten freshmen of influence'.

Currently UVA is ranked No. 10 in the NSCAA National Preseason Rankings.

Brian is joined on the UVA roster by Preseason Herman Trophy Candidate senior goalkeeper Chantel Jones.

The University of Virginia women kick of the 2011 season on Friday August, 19 in Charlotteseville, VA. against West Virginia.



OurGameMagazine.com conducted the following interview with Morgan Brian:

By: Kaeley McEvoy

Age: 18
High School: Frederica Academy
College: University of Virginia
Position: Attacking midfielder
Hometown: St. Simons Island, Ga.
Club: Ponte Vedra Soccer Club (Fla.)

1. Why did you choose to attend UVA? How has preseason been so far?

UVA has everything I could ever want.  A beautiful campus, excellent academics, and an outstanding soccer program.  Preseason has been a great experience for our team, and has helped our team develop on and off the field.

2. Your resume of credentials is far too long to list. In your mind, which of these awards has been the most important for you to receive.
Any of the player of the year awards are the most important, but for me the Gatorade Athlete of the Year has been the most important one that I have received.  It is not only based on athletic ability, but it is also based on character and academic achievements.

3. You were awarded the Gatorade Athlete of the Year at the ESPYs. What were the ESPYs like? (Side note- how did you decide what to wear!)
The ESPYs was an amazing event to attend.  I enjoyed being surrounded by so many famous athletes that I have admired throughout my childhood years.   I shopped at numerous stores until I found the right dress the day before we left!

4. Cat Whitehill came to your school to present you with the Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award. What was it like to have such an influential women’s soccer player at your high school? If you could have any athlete present you with an award who would it be and why?

I always watched Cat Whitehill play with the Women’s National Team, and I have admired her ever since.  When she came to my school, it was great to meet her and get to know her as a person.  I would have been honored by any athlete who presented me with the award.

5. You had a 3.8  GPA in high school. What an amazing feat with all of your soccer commitments. What was your favorite subject in high school and why? Do you have any idea of potential majors in at UVA?

My favorite subject in high school was Calculus because I love math, I loved my teacher, and I understand the subject well.  I am going to try to take a variety of classes offered here at UVA to explore my interests.  I love science and math.

6. Community service seems to be an important aspect of your life outside soccer. What has been your most memorable community service experience throughout high school?

My most memorable community service experience was last summer when my friends and I from the U-17 Women’s National Team traveled to Orlando to raise money for the Many Hearts, One Goal Foundation.  We spent a week in Orlando spending time with the Haitian girls whose homes had been destroyed by the earthquake in January 2010.

7. Who is your favorite player on the National Team right now and why?

Lauren Cheney and Megan Rapinoe are my favorite players on the National Team right now because they are technical players who have great vision and have a true soccer brain.

8. What is your advice for any younger girls playing the game? What are your favorite drills to do when you’re training alone?

My advice for any younger girls playing the game would be to believe in yourself and hard work does not take talent.  Growing up I have always been told to never let anyone tell you you can’t do something.  My favorite drills are technical ladders and dribbling through cones.

---

Kaeley currently plays soccer at Gettysburg College.  She played club for FSA SoccerPlus and CFC in Connecticut. She is a religious studies and english double major. Aspires to pursue journalism or public relations writing for ideally a non-profit organization.

A Conversation with Philadelphia Independence midfielder Sinead Farrelly | Our Game Magazine

University of Virginia alumni and 2011 WPS No. 2 overall draft pick Sinead Farrelly recently did the following interview, Courtesy of Our Game Magazine.


By David Bayer

Did you miss us? A minor thing called the "World Cup" interrupted our interview process. But we’re back, and we had a great time watching the games. We had a special treat this time … an interview with not only a player with our old hometown team, but an actual Philadelphia native!


Emma with Sinead Farrelly

 Sinead Farrelly – Midfielder – Philadelphia Independence
Birth date: November 16, 1989

Hometown: Havertown, PA

Nicknames: “Shin”, “Nade”, “Shinbad”. “Shay” is the newest one from her teammates.

Age she started soccer: 5

College: University of Virginia. She will be finishing electives in the fall towards a degree in sociology.

Why she wears number 14: It was the only number left. She originally wanted #17 – her college number.

Favorite pregame foods: Usually something high in carbs (chicken & pasta), but she loves sandwiches (chicken breast, spinach, tomato and onion…toasted)

Workout music: Anything upbeat (Black Eyed Peas, Nicki Minaj)

Superstitions: She doesn’t have any, but her trainer insists on always taping her right ankle first.

Favorite Cartoon Character: Not a fan of cartoons, but she does like reality TV. Keeping up with the Kardashians is a favorite. “When I don’t want to do anything, and I don’t want to think, I like to just sit down and watch something that will make me laugh.”

Favorite Movie: “Notting Hill” with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. She likes romantic comedies.

Favorite Actress: She has a “girl crush” on Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl)

Mentor: Her family has always supported her soccer playing. She’s had some great coaches, including Steve Swanson at the University of Virginia.

Favorite Charity: She and her family have done walks for breast cancer.

Favorite Players from the 1999 U.S. World Cup team: Shannon MacMillan & Michelle Akers

Surprising Fact About Sinead: Her family recently had a house built in Ireland, and she’ll be heading over there after the Fall. She lived in Ireland for three years.
Our thanks to Sinead for talking to us. You’ve heard about the typical Philly fan, right? Rude, crazy and obnoxious? (I can say that because I was one of them). Sinead was nothing like that at all.

UVA lands nations #1 recruit, Morgan Brian

According to todays Our Game Magazine post, TopDrawerSoccer.com number one recruit, Ponte Vedra’s Morgan Brian, who has been called into the U-20 U.S. Women’s National Team camp twice this year, will go to the University of Virginia.

Joining Morgan Brian at the University of Virginia will be No. 4 Olivia Brannon (Michigan Jaguars FC) and No. 16 Danielle Colaprico (PDA).

No. 10 Whitney Church (Loudoun FC) committed to Penn State.

Three Virginia Players Headed to HDC for Under-23 WNT Camp

The U.S. under-23 women’s national team camp that begins Sunday at the Home Depot Center.

Virginia and Florida State lead all teams with three players at the camp.
Virginia Players in Camp:

GK: Chantel Jones (Virginia; Midlothian, Va.)

Defenders: Kika Toulouse (Virginia; Arlington, Va.),  Morgan Stith (Virginia; Montclair, N.J.)

Virginia beat Maryland at 15th Annual Kicks Against Breast Cancer Tournament

The University of Virginia beat rivals Maryland 3-0 Saturday at the SoccerPlex in Boyds, MD. as part of the 15th Annual Kicks Against Breast Cancer Tournament.

For more information about the tournament and a list of teams go to: Kicks Against Breast Cancer

Virginia Women's Soccer rated top recruitment class

TopSoccer.com released its top signing classes and rated UVA Women's Soccer as the top class.

Virginia
In terms of sheer quality, there may not be a better class in the country than the Cavaliers' who boast: No. 30 Lia Bellizzi (Albertson SC), No. 4 Olivia Brannon (Michigan Jaguars FC), No. 1 No. 1 Morgan Brian (Ponte Vedra), No. 16 Danielle Colaprico (PDA), Campbell Millar (Bethesda SC) and No. 58 Kaili Torres (Ponte Vedra). Look out.

Read more: Top programs and new commitments roll in

Virginia Soccer Players named to U-20 Roster For Torneo De Las Americas

FROM USSOCCER.COM:

U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Thomas Rongen has finalized 18 of the 20 players that will participate in the Torneo de las Americas in Kennesaw, Ga., from Nov. 21-29. The U.S. will face Colombia on Nov. 26 and Mexico on Nov. 28 in the three-team round robin tournament held at the Kennesaw State Soccer Stadium.

Two Virginia natives Parker Walsh, defender (Karlsruher SC; Roanoke, Va.) and Conor Shanosky, midfielder (D.C. United, Sterling, Va.) were awarded spots on the roster.

Walsh, currently playing for a club in Germany, had committed to play for UVa in the spring of 2009 before deciding to skip his senior year at Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke, VA and instead begin his professional soccer career.

 photo property of: Karlsrusher Sport Club

Shanosky, followed Andy Najarn (2010 MLS ROY) and Bill Hamid to make the jump from D.C. United's Academy to its senior squad. Shanosky played for Potomac Falls High School and is a native of Sterling, VA.

photo property of: D.C. United

At 6'4" - 185 lbs, Shanosky is an impossing presense on the field for the US U-20 squad.

The Torneo de las Americas is being hosted by the Atlanta Beat of the WPS. For tickets and information go to: TheAtlantaBeat.com or call 678.298.4780

Nationally Ranked Virginia College and High School Soccer Teams and Players

Many college and high school soccer teams and players in Virginia are represented in recent national polls. Congratulations to those soccer programs and best of luck on the remainder of the seasons.

NSCAA – National Rankings

NSCAA/HendrickCars.com

Men (NCAA 10/12/10)

D-I:        #6 Virginia (8-2-1)

*also receiving votes: Old Dominion University

D-III:    #1 Christopher Newport (12-0-0)

Women (NCAA 10/12/10)

DI:         #9 Virginia (8-2-1)

*also receiving votes: Virginia Tech

NSCAA - Nationally Ranked Virginia High Schools (soccer)

NSCAA/HendrickCars.com  

Boys (10/12/10)

National:           #11 Episcopal (10-0-1) Alexandria

Region IV:        #2 Episcopal (8-0-1) Alexandria

                                #14 Cape Henry Collegiate (10-1-0) Virginia Beach

Girls (10/12/10)

Region IV:        #15 Bishop O’Connell (8-3-1) Arlington



Soccer America Top 25

SoccerAmerica.com

Women (NCAA 10/11/10)

#8 Virginia (8-3-1), #25 Virginia Tech (8-5-0)

Men (NCAA 10/12/10)

#3 Virginia (8-2-1), #23 Old Dominion (6-3-1)

Goal.com Week 6 Rankings

Goal.com

Men (NCAA 10/11/10)

#7 Virginia (8-2-1), #21 Old Dominion (7-3-1), #24 Virginia Commonwealth University (5-1-4)

 

Top Drawer Soccer –Tournament 48 Rankings

TopDrawerSoccer.com

Men

#5 Virginia, #20 William & Mary, #41 James Madison,

Women

#12 Virginia, #37 Virginia Tech, #41 James Madison,

Women's Players to watch - Top 100 

TopDrawerSoccer.com

#3 - Sinead Farrelly, Virginia MF

#62 - Lauren Alwine, Virginia F

#63 - Meghan Lenczyk, Virginia F

#64 - Marika Gray, Virginia Tech. F

Men’s College Players to Watch – National Top 100

TopDrawerSoccer.com

#5 - CJ Sapong, James Madison F

#20 – Greg Monaco, Virginia D

#36 – Will Bates, Virginia F

#49 – Ryan Snyder, William & Mary F

#56 – Diego Restrepo, Virginia GK

#89 – Mike Volk, Virginia D

Club Players to Watch – National Top 100 (2011)

TopDrawerSoccer.com

Boys:

#33 – Ryan Zinkhan, Richmond Strikers F

#75 – Reuben Chapman, Richmond Strikers CM

Girls:

#9 – Whitney Church, Loudoun FC D

#67 – Elizabeth Casey, FC Virginia D

Indian River grad brings star power to U.Va. soccer

By Jared Diamond
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 12, 2010

http://pilotonline.com/

---

(Courtesy of U Va.)

 The people closest to Ari Dimas burst with excitement at the mention of his name. Their voices brim with energy and enthusiasm at the prospect of reliving Dimas' storybook journey.

Hard to blame them.

A 5-foot-5 midfielder from Indian River High, once deemed too small to survive the rigors of Division I soccer, establishing himself as a star at defending national champion Virginia. Who could resist a story like that?

"There's not one person who knows him who isn't rooting for him, who doesn't feel something when they think about what he has done," U.Va. women's soccer coach Steve Swanson said.

Dimas graduated from high school in 2008 as class valedictorian and hoped to play for an Ivy League school. Many coaches dismissed him without seeing him play.

Undeterred and full of persistence, Dimas walked on at Virginia last season. He now starts at midfield for the No. 4-ranked Cavaliers and already has a pair of goals this season - both game-winners - and three assists.
"I recruited myself to U.Va.," Dimas said. "I just called and bothered the coaches so much that eventually, they just said, 'Who is this kid who keeps trying to talk to me?' "

Like many college athletes, even future stars, Dimas spent his freshman year on the scout team. But in Dimas' case, that meant the women's scout team.

After enrolling at U.Va., he joined the men's club squad to stay in playing shape, hoping to ultimately move onto the varsity. A few of his teammates suggested he help the women's team, too.

Dimas' job consisted of simulating the opposition in practice for the "real" players. Not exactly glamorous, but Dimas viewed it as an opportunity to be around the program.

"Not too long after he started practicing with us, I said, 'Ari, I really think you have some great talent here. Have you talked to George?' " Swanson said, referring to men's coach George Gelnovatch.

Dimas hoped to hear that kind of praise from coaches coming out of high school, but rarely did. Several Division III schools offered a chance to play, but he refused to sacrifice academics strictly for soccer. He said a few D-I schools expressed interest, but none with the educational reputation of Virginia.

This from the kid Indian River coach Keith Freeman called "the best player I ever had." He started his club career with Chesapeake Select but knew little of the recruiting process until he joined the Virginia Beach-based Virginia Rush for his junior season.

Dimas chose U.Va. for the academics but also vowed to find his way onto the team. His senior year at Indian River, he started looking for reasons to contact the Virginia staff, asking the coaches to come to his matches whenever they could.

"I told him to start watching the movie 'Rudy' for inspiration," Freeman said. "The difference between Ari and Rudy, though, is that Rudy just played at Notre Dame. Ari is a star at Virginia."

Gelnovatch never came out specifically to watch Dimas but caught a few of his matches at tournaments while scouting others. But Dimas impressed him with his initiative, including twice paying his own way to the U.Va. summer soccer camp where coaches could see him.

From those encounters, Gelnovatch recognized Dimas' drive, work ethic and technique. He also appreciated his demeanor and attitude. Freeman likes to tell people how after every high school practice, Dimas shook his coach's hand and thanked him for taking time away from his family to coach the team.

And yet, Gelnovatch came to the same conclusion as just about everyone else at the time: Dimas possessed the natural skill to compete, but his stature and physical limitations frightened him.

"Every time we saw him, in the back of your head, you can't help but say, 'Wow, no matter how good he is, he's 5-5,' " Gelnovatch said.

Nevertheless, after Dimas' strong performances on the club and scout teams, Gelnovatch invited him to a walk-on tryout for the varsity team in the spring of 2009. Dimas instantly commanded attention at the tryout by finishing in the top three in all the fitness tests. And not just among the walk-ons; he performed that well against the established varsity players, too.

That dedication and commitment prompted Gelnovatch to monitor Dimas' progress all spring, and he eventually agreed to take him on the team last fall. Swanson said other women's scout team players had made the men's team before, but none enjoyed much playing time.

Dimas, however, earned a spot in the starting lineup by the midpoint of the 2009 season.
He leaped into the spotlight by scoring a game-winning goal in the third round of the NCAA tournament against Portland last November. It was a shot that broke the hearts of a few dozen coaches who passed on him in high school.

The Cavaliers eventually won the national title. Soon after, an Ivy League coach called Jay Hoffman, who worked with Dimas as a coaching director for the Rush.

"He says to me, 'Wait a minute; isn't that the kid you were trying to get me to look at?' " said Hoffman, who declined to identify the coach. "I say back to him, 'You think? Didn't I tell you so?' "

In recognition of Dimas' success, Gelnovatch rewarded him with a scholarship for this year. But regardless of what happens, Dimas already has secured a special place in the annals of Virginia soccer.
A perfect ending to a story fit for the screen.

Said Freeman: "I remember seeing that (NCAA tournament) goal and saying, 'This is a Disney movie in the making.' "