Gearing up for Maryland/Virginia collision

While we’re excited at TopDrawerSoccer.com about our first LIVE webcast taking place this Friday, we haven’t forgotten that, to misquote Shakespeare, “the game’s the thing.”

The game in this case is about as good a spring matchup as you’ll find, as defending national champion Virginia faces the 2008 national champion Maryland in an all-Atlantic Coast Conference battle.

These teams have had a great rivalry over the years and it’s just getting better as each keeps challenging and achieving the top national honors in men’s college soccer.

Of course spring is a major evaluation tool for head coaches, and Cavaliers’ mentor George Gelnovatch, just a few months removed from his first national title earned when his team beat Akron on penalties in the College Cup championship match, will continue running the rule over his new-look squad.

Along with the loss of seniors Jonathan Villanueva, Neil Barlow and Ross LaBauex, Virginia’s standout midfielder Tony Tchani left school early to begin his professional career. Longtime assistant coach Mike McGinty has also left the program, having been hired as the head coach at St. Louis(m) University.

The Terrapins are also looking at some new faces in new places, and two of their spring recruiting class already enrolled at the College Park campus, meaning they are eligible for the spring season. New Zealand youth international Gordon Murie in defense and Louisiana goal-scoring phenom Patrick Mullins will both be on the roster for the game.

But the Terrapins lost departing seniors Tyler Mishalow, Kevin Tangney, Drew Yates, Kwame Darko and Doug Rodkey from last year’s NCAA quarterfinalists. Sasho Cirovski’s squad has won 2 of the past 5 NCAA titles.

What’s certain is that both teams will be in the thick of things this fall when ACC and national title races begin. This Friday’s match will definitely be more than your typical spring encounter, not to mention the fact that you can watch it LIVE on TopDrawerSoccer.com.