Virginia Week News

[wgdsr]

On paper, this is a game that SU should win, by a couple. I think Syracuse has a pretty clear advantage in every positional group, save LSM, and perhaps FOGO if Ghobrial plays (definitely if he is out). If you just go by midseason IL awards, SU leads 9-3. It's not everything obviously, but SU has a talent advantage here. They need to exploit it.

But of course, games are not played on paper. You may want to overlook the Cavs based on their record, but they didn't lose to chumps. Four losses to pretty good teams (Maryland, Richmond, Ohio State and Hopkins when they had Melendez healthy). They beat teams that Syracuse has played by similar scores (Towson and Utah). Despite missing three five star freshmen to injury, they are still a lineup littered with top recruits and five star rankings. This isn't a team to take likely.

Millon hasn't had the season we all thought he might (18% shooting), but he's still a dynamic player. I think he still draws Figuerias in this matchup. After that it gets interesting. Sunderland leads the team in scoring with 41 points, but physically, Dwan might match up better with Ryan Colsey, or bump up to midfield to guard Schutz. But maybe the coaches like Dwan and his MIAA connections on Sunderland? UVA has not gotten much out of their midfield, which should really favor the SU defense.

On offense, lots of talk about Spallina, but this is a game for the SU midfield. I think this comes down to Michael Leo and Luke Rhoa, and if those two can have hat tricks, this game really opens up for SU. Last year the entire first midfield had three points, and Jake Stevens had four. I don't think Spallina will match up well with the length of UVA's defense, but SU's midfield should be able to score. They need to produce this year. Also the second line needs to put something forward this game.

I'm curious to see how SU handles playing on grass, a surface they haven't played on this year. SU has only played two total games outdoors this year, so it's another thing to watch for. Other than that, Ghobrial's health will be a big talking point, as UVA looks thin in that department if he can't go.

Personally I think this will be a SU victory, something like 14-10, but UVA certainly has it in them to take it to SU if the Orange get complacent. They'll have their backs against the wall, and if they win it will put the Orange on notice for a spot in the tournament. Syracuse needs to play as desperate as UVA in this one. Go Orange!

obviously, thomson looks out for su, they do have a facsimile in deere, and off ball isn't uva's strength. so their att could feast, even if it isn't thru att dodging.

on uva injury front, ghobriel situation is weird. he wrapped up the terp game and looked full speed. "day to day" since. practice injury, turn an ankle, hammy? close to as important, been missing what i think was best defensive ssdm burt for 4 games now, was in a boot several weeks ago. then till went down, forcing 2 freshmen into their top 4. if 1 of the 2 isn't back, chizmar is gonna get sent out there over and over and worn down by the pace. terenzi hasn't even been mentioned in mid-week chatter in ages.

wouldn't necessarily be putting goalie in the cuse advantage category, guess we'll see. nunes' acquired tick is getting stared down by a time and room, so getting out to hiltz and rhoa will be important for them. he's played well since acquiring the job save for 1st quarter vs umd & really just on 2 g's.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Hiltz cooked this team last year and we will need more of that from him again. Schroter, similar to Scott Smith at Hop, is a big strong and physical cover that can really eliminate Spallinas take the body type dodges. Not saying Spallina will generate nothing, but it is a tall order compared to other matchups against UVAs defense. We need Hiltz to step up off the dodge like he has several times already this season and last.

Defense needs to eliminate the BS in transition. Colgate burned us a few times on unsettled plays and UVA is even better at exploiting those situati ons. 6v6 we need to grow a pair and shut down this offense. They simply do not have the horses to be putting up the type of numbers Harvard did in 6v6. Odierna and co need to take it to these guys.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[36'sq.]

Just realized this week that Charles Balsamo left Duke and is now at UVA. This seems odd to me, guy played in 38/39 games his first two seasons and seemed almost like Duke's 4/5 midfielder. Got lots of runs, scored some goals (even an OT winner at Cuse in his freshman year, sorry, you guys probably don't want to remember that).

Would love to hear any word on the street. It's one thing to transfer, but to an ACC rival? And he only has a few points on the season, so it's not going so well for him. Gotta wonder if he wanted to stick it to the Duke program and Danowski for some reason.

 

[36'sq.]

Time for the annual trash talk post - bald tires with huge holes in them; broken crockery.

The only thing that's been consistent this year is our inconsistency. One quarter we look like world beaters and the next we can't even throw and catch. Since returning to the starting job, Nunes has looked a bit better and seems to be regaining confidence with each save. Millon has been working behind the goal and Sutherland is positioning himself on a wing à là Cormier. One of the Ms who has been very active in the past couple of games is Dook transfer Balsamo (00) on the 2nd line. He's been making things happen when he's on the field. Teams seem to be making a concerted effort to keep Wayer (LSM) from shooting when he crosses midfield. A long stick is patrolling the middle of the field on clears, quite willing to challenge the ball, even over the line.

Late add: It's been a "process" for Millon in his transition to being covered by the opponent's #1 pole. He's been getting accustomed at it game by game.

He's talented and fast, I saw him play quite a bit for Duke. But "making things happen"? 1g, 1a, 8 shots in 8 games. Haven't watched any UVA games, but the stats seem to tell a different story.

Would love to know more about why he transferred and why he chose and ACC rival.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[cuselaxss26]

He's talented and fast, I saw him play quite a bit for Duke. But "making things happen"? 1g, 1a, 8 shots in 8 games. Haven't watched any UVA games, but the stats seem to tell a different story.

Would love to know more about why he transferred and why he chose and ACC rival.

One thing kinda notice with duke last few years. They start a lot of freshman at times n some of them have some good seasons. But seems as after freshman year or even sophomore those freshman players don’t see ton of time as the other freshman get play. Like reed was solid freshman year n either now senior or when barely saw field. Same thing with balsamo. Freshmen year n sophomore he played good amount n was involved then seem to just not be factor. Not sure that’s how coach D does it or what. But been few players who had solid freshman years n by time their seniors almost forget they were still even at school

 

[cuselaxss26]

I mean even now macdory was main focal point with o’neil n all. Now he isn’t even the one to really start with ball a lot. Or isn’t huge focal point of offense. They go to him kind at end of games n need spark but why isn’t he ur guy all the time. We’re a game or two he didn’t even have a shot. Same thing with mike sowers. Never used him as they should. Yet duke still brings in massive recruits every year. I don’t get it.

 

[OrangeXtreme]