Virginia hosts Xavier to kick off the regular season

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia men’s soccer team is set to open its 79th season on Thursday when the Cavaliers host Xavier at Klöckner Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Thursday’s match against Xavier will be streamed on ACCNX, which is available through the ESPN app and at WatchESPN.com for customers who have the ACC Network as a part of their television subscription. Live stats are also available and links to both the live stats and broadcast are available at VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get updates by following the program’s official Twitter account (@UVAMenSoccer).

TICKETS AVAILABLE

Fans can purchase single-game tickets in advance online at UVATix.com. Reserved seats purchased in advance are $12, and general admission tickets are $8. UVA athletics strongly encourages fans to avoid lines on game day and purchase their tickets online in advance. Single game tickets will be $15 at the gate on game day for reserved seats if available and $10 for general admission seats. Group packages for parties of 20 or more are $6 and are available for purchase over the phone in advance only.

General admission season tickets are also on sale for $40.

MATCH NOTES

• Under head coach George Gelnovatch, Virginia is 20-6 in season openers all-time and has won eight consecutive matches on opening night.
• Virginia’s senior captain Andreas Ueland was named to the 2022 ACC Preseason Watch List, the league announced on August 16
• The Cavaliers welcome a class of 16 first-years and transfers, a crew that ranks in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s top-five recruiting classes in the nation
• Virginia returns 18 players from last season’s squad, including each of its top five scorers from 2021 (Leo Afonso, Kome Ubogu, Michael Tsicoulias, Andreas Ueland, and Will Citron)
• Western Michigan transfer Aidan O’Connor faced off against Virginia to start the 2021 season. O’Connor scored in the match, but Virginia claimed a 2-1 victory
• Virginia’s Phil Horton tallied a total of three goals in two preseason matches to lead the Cavaliers

THE SERIES WITH XAVIER

• The Cavaliers have matched up with Xavier on just two occasions, with each ending in 1-1 draws
• Both prior matches were held at Klöckner Stadium
• The last time the teams played was in 2016, when Virginia scored a tying goal in the 61st minute to earn a draw

NOTING THE MUSKETEERS

• Xavier begins a new era under head coach John Higgins this season
• Higgins joins the program after amassing a record of 150-56-29 at Division II Indianapolis
• Xavier looks to replace its leading scorer from 2021, Karsen Henderlong but returns its leader in assists from last season, Justus Kauppinen
• Xavier was picked to finish 11th in the Big East this season