No. 2 Virginia men shut out VMI, 4-0, in preseason action

The second-ranked Virginia men’s soccer team earned a 4-0 victory over VMI in exhibition action Monday evening at Klöckner Stadium. Sophomore midfielder Ari Dimas (Chesapeake, Va.) led the Cavaliers offensively with a goal and two assists.
 
“It’s good to score goals and it’s good to win,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “We want to continue to be disciplined and organized.”
 
UVa scored all four of its goals in the second half. Sophomore forward Will Bates (Chester, Va.) got the offense going when he finished Dimas’ through ball and beat VMI goalkeeper Brian Sowell from 12 yards out in the 49th minute.
 
Dimas made it 2-0 in the 64th minute, one-touching a cross by Sean Murnane (Centreville, Va.) into the back of the net. Felipe Libreros (Oldsmar, Fla.) also tallied an assist on the play, as his pass to Murnane set up the scoring opportunity.
 
“Today we got the result and played well,” Dimas said. “Sean Murnane played a good, driven ball across the goal, and I was in a lucky spot and pretty much had to tap it in.”
 
Sophomore Ahkeel Rodney (Elmont, N.Y.) scored UVa’s third goal in the 68th minute, when he streaked down the left side and finished a pass from Bryan Lima (Boca Raton, Fla.).
 
Virginia’s fourth goal was a fan favorite, as Libreros was stationed on the near post during Dimas’ corner kick in the 79th minute. He flicked the ball with his heel and it trickled past the goal line.
 
Virginia out-shot VMI, 23-3, and held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Diego Restrepo (West Palm Beach, Fla.) played 65 scoreless minutes in goal for Virginia, and Matt Miscione (Ashburn, Va.) finished the shutout for the Cavaliers.
 
Ami Shihata, Zach Morgan and Aaron White registered shots for the Keydets (none on goal). Brian Sowell (three saves), Daniel Kitchen and Taylor Fuererstein (one save) split time in goal for VMI.