UVA Men’s Soccer | Marquee Matchup Set for Klöckner

By Jeff White (jwhite@virginia.edu)
VirginiaSports.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Between them, they’ve won 15 NCAA championships in men’s soccer, and they’re considered royalty in the sport. For all their postseason success, however, Virginia and Indiana have collided in the NCAA tournament only twice.

In 1983, the Hoosiers defeated the Cavaliers 3-1 in the NCAA semifinals. In 1994, UVA edged Indiana 1-0 in the NCAA championship game. George Gelnovatch, who’s in his 28^th season as Virginia’s head coach, remembers both clashes with the Hoosiers. A forward for the Wahoos in ’83, he was Bruce Arena’s top assistant in ’94.

“Over the years, there’s been paths where we’ve could have met [again] in the NCAA tournament, and it just never seemed to manifest,” Gelnovatch said. “Last year was one of them.”

In 2022, Virginia, seeded No. 4 in the 48-team tournament, lost a penalty-kick shootout to Marshall in the second round. Had the Cavaliers advanced, they would have hosted Indiana in the Sweet Sixteen.

“But this time it’s worked out,” Gelnovatch said, “so I think it’s a classic matchup.”

At 1 p.m. Sunday, No. 7 seed UVA (11-3-4) takes on Indiana (14-4-4) at Klöckner Stadium. The winner will face No. 2 seed Notre Dame or Western Michigan in next weekend’s NCAA quarterfinals.

“These are the games everyone gets excited about in the college landscape,” Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley told IUHoosiers.com.

UVA has won seven NCAA titles (1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2009, 2014). Indiana has been crowned NCAA champion eight times (1982, 1983, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2012). Only Saint Louis, with 10, has captured more national titles.

“I think we’re all aware that [Indiana] comes to the tournament ready every year,” Virginia goalkeeper Joey Batrouni said, “so I think we’re getting prepared for that. We have the experience as well and we have the culture and tradition, and it goes way back for our program as well. So it’s gonna be a great match.”