Aug. 28, 2008
OPENING TOURNAMENT
St. John's men at Virginia Classic
The St. John’s men’s team opens their season with two games at the Virginia Soccer Classic in Charlottesville, Va. this weekend.
The Red Storm will open against the host University of Virginia Friday at 8 p.m., and close out play in the classic vs. Old Dominion Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Virginia and Old Dominion received votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America pre-season poll. Live stats for both games will be available at
University of Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site - VirginiaSports.com.
St. John's is 10-3-4 in season openers since coach Dr. Dave Masur took the reigns in 1991. Dating back to the program's first season of competition in 1979, the team is 16-7-6 all-time in season openers. The team has won each of its past four openers and has not allowed a goal in any of those games.
This will be only the fourth meeting between St. John’s and Virginia in a series that began in 1994. Virginia leads the all-time series 3-0 and the three matches have been played at Virginia.
In the most recent meeting on Sept. 16, 2007, the teams remained scoreless through the end of regulation. Ross LaBauex, however, netted the game-winner for then sixth-ranked Virginia in the 97th minute for a 1-0 win.
The Cavaliers finished the 2007 season with a 12-8-2 record and advanced to the NCAA Division I tournament. After defeating Saint Peter’s, 3-1, in the opening round, Virginia fell to West Virginia, 1-0.
Junior Ross LaBauex led the UVA attack with seven goals, including three game-winners, and four assists last season. Among other top returning players are Jonathan Villanueva (two goals, six assists), Neil Barlow (three goals, five assists) and Matt Mitchell (three goals, one assist).
Junior goalkeeper Michael Giallombardo was 7-6-2 with a 1.41 goals against average in 2007. He had five shutouts.
Virginia posted a 10-2-1 record at Klockner Stadium a year ago.
Virginia University Classic
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