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Their Cups Runneth Over

Men’s and women’s soccer play in NCAA College Cup

Jordan Allen Jim Daves

The efforts of Virginia’s men’s and women’s soccer players led both teams to the 2013 NCAA College Cup. At the beginning of the season, men’s soccer head coach George Gelnovatch (Col ’87) thought 2014 would be the year his team would make it to the Cup.

“We got there a little early,” he says. “That was a testament to everyone sticking together and working hard.”

Gelnovatch said his players are looking to continue their success next season.

The same optimism holds true for the women’s soccer team. The 2013 season was “magical,” says head coach Steve Swanson. “From a team perspective we thought we were in team heaven.”

The women lost only two of their games, including the College Cup semi-finals, and  midfielder Morgan Brian (Educ ’15) won the Hermann Trophy, given to the best player in NCAA Division I soccer.

“It was an incredible year because of the quality of the team,” Swanson says. “It was like a puzzle where every piece fit together. It was always about the team.”