Former UVA standout signs with Seattle Sounders FC in MLS

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Former Virginia men’s soccer standout Will Bates has signed a contract with Seattle Sounders FC, the club announced today. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed. 

Bates, 22, was selected by Sounders FC on January 22 with the fifth overall selection in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft. He joined Sounders FC training in early February. 

“Will is dangerous in the box and always plays hard,” said Sounders FC Sporting Director Chris Henderson. “He can score with both feet and with his head. He provides us with depth at forward and we are excited to have him in Seattle.”

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.

2013 MLS Combine Invites include three from Virginia Schools

MLS released their list of players invited to the 2013 MLS Combine which consists of 54 players. Of those, three are from Virginia schools:

• Will Bates, University of Virginia (F)
• Yannik Smith, Old Dominion (F)
• Paul Wyatt, James Madison (M/F)

See complete list of 2013 MLS Combine invitees: click here

UVA Men Defeat No. 23 High Point, 2-1

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Senior forward Will Bates scored twice, including a game-winning penalty kick in the 89th minute, to lift Virginia to a 2-1 win over No. 23 High Point Tuesday night at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers improve to 6-5-1 with the victory, while handing the Panthers (10-1-1) their first loss of the season and snapping their 16-match unbeaten streak. 

“Give a lot of credit to High Point for being undefeated at this point in the season; that isn’t an easy thing to do and they are a very good team,” said head coach George Gelnovatch. “We gifted them a goal early. It was a mistake, but we responded and tied it up later in the first half. In the second half we played a dangerous game with them, because we are good in possession and they are good on the counter. It was a matter of were they going to catch us on a counter or were we going to be able to break them down. We were able to do that late and it won us the game.”

High Point took the early lead in the 10th minute of play. Mamadee Nyepon stole a ball from a defender and set up Shawn Sloan in behind the defense. Sloan took advantage of his one-on-one chance with Cavalier goalkeeper Spencer LaCivita and slotted home his fifth goal of the season.

Virginia drew even in the 29th minute on Bates’ first tally of the night. After Darius Madison was fouled just outside the box, Bates took the ensuing free kick and curled it over the wall and into the net for his sixth goal of the season. The game remained tied 1-1 at intermission. 

The Cavaliers had several quality chances as the second half progressed. Twice on corner kicks, a headed shot was saved off the line by High Point defender Shane Malcolm, one by Matt Brown in the 64th minute and one by Bates in the 88th minute.

With just 73 seconds remaining to play, a ball into the box bounced and hit the arm of Malcolm and was whistled for a penalty kick. Bates stepped to the spot and blasted in his seventh goal of the season and second of the night.

“This was a huge result for us,” said Gelnovatch. “We have played three of our last four on the road against very tough opponents. Winning gives you energy. Playing well and winning against a very good opponent like them will give us a lot of energy and momentum as we continue this homestand.”

Virginia outshot High Point 10-9 and had a 4-3 corner kick edge. LaCivita made two saves for the Cavaliers, while Kody Palmer made two at the other end for the Panthers.

The Cavaliers continue their four-game homestand on Friday as they host No. 15 Wake Forest. Game time at Klöckner Stadium is 7 p.m.

UVA Crushes Mount St. Mary's, Bates collects Hat Trick

Virginia Men's Soccer Rides Scoring Barrage to 6-1 Win Over Mount St. Mary’s

Bates records fourth career hat trick in UVa’s big victory

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Will Bates (Sr., Chester, Va.) recorded a hat trick and Chris Somerville (So., West Chester, Pa.) added a pair of goals as the Virginia men’s soccer team rolled to a 6-1 victory over Mount St. Mary’s Tuesday evening at Klöckner Stadium. 

 

 

“It was a good run for our starters in preparation for Friday (against Xavier) – not too much, just enough,” UVa head coach George Gelnovatch, “And (it was) good for guys who hadn’t played in a while to get a little bit of a run as well. I thought this game was great for us.”

Bates earned his fourth career hat trick, despite playing just the first half, and now has 38 career goals, which ranks 10th in Virginia history. He moved into the top 10 after passing Ryan Gibbs (1999-2002), who recorded 37 career scores.

Virginia (3-2) controlled possession throughout the first half, and Bates started the scoring at the 13-minute mark, as he took a long Eric Bird (So., Virginia Beach, Va.) serve into the box and headed it to the near corner of the net. It marked UVa’s first first-half goal this season.

Bates used his head again in the 20th minute when he knocked home a Scott Thomsen (Fr., Brick, N.J.) corner kick. 

The Cavaliers continued to pressure the Mountaineers and drew a penalty kick in the 28th minute when Darius Madison (Fr., Philadelphia, Pa.) was fouled and knocked down in the box. Madison calmly finished on the penalty kick for his first career score, giving UVa a 3-0 advantage.

UVa drew another penalty kick in the 37th minute when Ryan Zinkhan (So., Fredericksburg, Va.) was fouled in the box. Mount St. Mary’s goalkeeper Peter Steve deflected the PK, but Bates collected the rebound and zipped it past Steve for a commanding 4-0 Cavalier lead.

The Cavaliers again used a penalty kick to score in the 70th minute, as Chris Somerville (So., West Chester, Pa.) was tackled in the box after an aggressive run down the field. He converted the penalty kick for his first goal of the year.

The Mountaineers (1-4) turned a UVa turnover deep in its own territory into their lone goal of the game in the 81st minute, as Zoncher Dennis collected a deflection and found himself in a one-on-one situation with Miscione and beat him to the far post. 

UVa added one final tally with just over a minute remaining when Somerville broke free on a breakaway. He eluded Steve in the box and then beat the keeper with a short touch-in. The goal gave Somerville his first career multi-goal game.

Virginia goalkeepers Spencer LaCivita (Fr., Raleigh, N.C.) and Matt Miscione (R-So., Ashburn, Va.) each spent a half in goal for the Cavaliers. LaCivita made a save in the first half, while Miscione made four second-half saves in his first career appearance for UVa. Steve made a pair of saves for Mount St. Mary’s.

UVa held a 13-10 shots edge, including 8-2 in the first half.  Both teams recorded four corner kicks. The Mount was whistled for 11 fouls, while UVa was credited with nine.

Virginia steps out of ACC play at 7 p.m. Friday for a tough non-conference battle as it takes on No. 19 Xavier in the first-ever meeting between the programs. The Musketeers are unbeaten at 4-0-1 this year.

UVA Men Begin ACC Play With Win over Blue Devils

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Will Bates (Sr., Chester, Va.) scored in the 58th minute and the Virginia men’s soccer team was stout on defense in picking up a 1-0 win over Duke Friday night at Klöckner Stadium. The match was the ACC opener for both squads and was played in front of 4,230 spectators, marking UVa’s largest home crowd since Dec. 4, 2009 (4,900 vs. Maryland in NCAA quarterfinals).

“It’s great to get three points in conference play,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “It’s a huge win in conference play, especially at home, and we did not give up a goal or really a good chance.” 

After a defensive struggle in the first half with the teams combining for no shots on goal, Virginia (2-2, 1-0 ACC) struck paydirt in the 57th minute. After Chris Somerville (So., West Chester, Pa.) ran down a long ball on the left flank over the Duke defense, he served it across the box. Marcus Salandy-Defour (Fr., Kensington, Md.) tracked the ball down near the goal line and tapped it back to Bates, who sent the ball into the far corner of the goal from six yards out for the score.

 

 

The goal was Bates’ 35th career score. He now is two goals shy of the top 10 in Virginia history. The assist marked Salandy-Defour’s first career point.

UVa finished with an 11-6 shots advantage; both teams put two shots on goal. UVa held a 3-2 edge in corner kicks and also committed 11 fouls, compared to nine for Duke (1-3, 0-1).

Virginia goalkeeper Spencer LaCivita (So., Raleigh, N.C.) was not tested much, but he made a pair of saves. Duke keeper James Belshaw made one save.

Virginia continues its six-match homestand at 7 p.m. Tuesday when it plays host to Mount St. Mary’s.