A Historic Meeting of Top‑25 Teams
The Virginia men’s soccer program, currently ranked No. 11, will open its 2025 campaign at home against No. 16 High Point on Monday, August 24, at Klöckner Stadium in Charlottesville. The matchup represents a first in the series history: two teams positioned within the top twenty‑five of the national rankings will meet on the same field.
Coached by George Gelnovatch, the Cavaliers entered the game after a 2‑1 defeat to UCLA in their season opener, ending a streak that dated back to 2022. Despite the loss, Virginia boasts a formidable home pedigree, having posted a 66‑32‑21 record against top‑25 opponents at home since 1996 under Gelnovatch’s leadership.
The roster features several standout performers from the previous season. Sebastian Pop, an All‑ACC third‑team selection, led the team in minutes played, while Marco Dos Santos contributed twelve points, including six assists on game‑winning goals. Assistant coach Johnny Fenwick, who previously spent four seasons at High Point from 2015 to 2018, will be looking to leverage his familiarity with the opponent.
Virginia’s recent achievements include an outright ACC regular‑season title, a top seed in the ACC Tournament, and a Coach of the Year award for Gelnovatch. The team also secured a first‑round bye in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year, the only program among three to accomplish this with multiple top‑four seeds.
Fans can watch the live action on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX) via the ESPN app or WatchESPN.com. The broadcast will provide coverage of the Cavaliers’ season opener, which follows on August 28 against American.