Charlottesville, VA – While Virginia (UVA) won the game 4-0 over 2007 NCAA tournament participant Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), they lost highly touted freshman and 2008 Gatorade player of the year, Chris Agorsor. In the 17th minute, Agorsor was taken from the field in an ambulance after being fouled in the box and being awarded a PK. In reviewing a photographer’s picture sequence at half time, it looked like his right knee buckled under him resulting in possibly an ACL/MCL injury. While I’m not a doctor, I did eat the free breakfast buffet at a Holiday Inn Express this morning! It doesn’t look good for Agorsor. Also, It doesn’t look like the injury was suffered from contact according to the pictures. [later reports says that Agorsor is done for the year from an ACL injury.]
Is there contact? You judge – it’s difficult to determine 100%. Click on the photo’s for a larger resolution.
Below is the sequence of four pictures that led to Agorsor’s injury. The photographer is a very talented CCSU student Conrad Aiker. Here is a link to all of his pictures from the UVA-CCSU match.
Agorsor makes his move
It was a pretty thorough beat-down by UVA with CCSU finally getting a few shots at the end of the game with most of the UVA first team watching from the bench.
Starting Lineups:
CCSU 4-2-3-1.
G: Paul Armstrong
D: Brad Gorrham, David Tyrie, Benjamin Barton, Eddie Floyd
DM: Robert Cavener, Mersad Sahanic
M: Christopher Brown, Yan Klukowski, Eduardo Ortiz
F: Raphael Guimaraes
UVA 4-1-4-1.
G: Michael Giallombardo
D: Hunter Jumper, Howard Turk, Shawn Barry, Matt Weiler
DM: Matt Poole
M: Matt Mitchell, Tony Tchani, Ross LaBauex, Jonathan Villanueva
F: Chris Agorsor
David Tyrie reaches back as Agorsor cuts
CCSU observations: They were unable to handle the UVA speed of play. When they tried to quicken their play, they rushed too much and were creating unforced errors – except for two players who seemed to be able to play at this level: Raphael Guimaraes and Yan Klukowski.
Junior forward Raphael Guimaraes is very good on the ball. He has confidence and has the ability to give himself space to hold possession.
Referee Peter Vhima normally calls a pretty good game, but I was mystified why he kept making calls taking advantage away from CCSU. It was aggravating CCSU, as well.
Early in the first half, senior Yan Klukowski worked with Eduardo Ortiz to get the ball in the box, but the play ended with a poor cross by Ortiz.
In the second half, freshman Jared Spieker came on and started making bone crushing tackles. I was initially impressed, but then he started mis-timing his tackles and quickly picked up a yellow. I expect that if he played an entire game, he would earn a red card.
Agorsor’s leg crumbles as Tyrie’s foot gets awful close
UVA observations:
Freshman midfielder Tony Tchani scored the first two goals in the first half. In the sixth minute, freshman left back Hunter Jumper forwarded a pass to Tchani 30 yards from goal off to the left of the goal. Tchani turned driving diagonally toward the goal, shooting from 20 yards into the lower left of the goal.
Tchani’s second goal in the 17th minute was an expensive penalty kick that Tchani converted to the lower right, but it was at the expense of Agorsor’s season. Tchani had a 20 minute wait before taking the kick because of the injury. Pretty good concentration.
Tchani added an assist in the 33rd minute with a long pass toward junior midfielder Ross LaBauex. While CCSU junior left back Eddie Floyd waited for the ball, LaBauex stepped in front of him with only the goalie to beat from 30 yards. LaBauex pulled the goalie to him before slotting the goal.
MOTM Tchani is ready to move on. He’s going to have more trouble getting PK’s with Agorsor’s injury.
Jumper shot the ball on a rope from a 40 yard free kick. The goal keeper could only punch the ball away surrendering a corner kick. It was a jaw-dropper! His tackling in the back is sure.
Seconds into the second half, senior DM Matt Poole served freshman Brian Ownby (heir apparent for Agorsor). With one-touch, Ownby got into the box, then shot it into the goal for the final tally for UVA.
Poole was unfazed with the CCSU pressure and calmly distributed the ball. I wrote this at HT. It continued in the second half.
Junior Matt Mitchell was too fast for the CCSU players. Speed has never been his problem. His corner kicks were accurate and dangerous. He dribbles into traffic because he doesn’t get his head up (some might suggest that he makes bad decisions – ok, fine). Mitchell may wind up back up top, but I don’t have confidence that he can shoot well enough to be the focal point of the UVA attack. Most of his goals will need to be break-away goals that he gets the ball by the keeper.
Junior midfielder Jonathan Villanueva is starting to fulfill the potential from the expectations prior to his freshman year. His passing is improving. His corner kicks are dangerous. He’s taking dangerous shots. Now, he needs to continue this against better competition.
Junior midfielder Neil Barlow made a beautiful move using his heel to nutmeg Eddie Floyd then finished the play by making a good cross before the ball went over the end line.
Agorsor’s left leg in an odd position
