[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S1366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CAVALIERS SOCCER TEAM

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, approximately 1 year ago, on February 23, 
1994, Senator Warner remarked for this Record that the University of 
Virginia soccer team had reached an athletic pinnacle never before 
achieved: three successive NCAA national championships. I joined 
Senator Warner and Senator Robb in recognizing this team's achievement 
with special ceremonies in the U.S. Capitol and with President Clinton 
and Vice President Gore at the White House.
  I mention this as a prelude to the Cavaliers' most recent 
achievement. On December 11, the Virginia Cavaliers soccer team 
defeated the Indiana Hoosiers by a score of 1-0 to claim an 
unprecedented fourth consecutive National College Athletic Association 
title.
  The Washington Post reported that:

       The Cavaliers (22-3-1) certainly had a lot to overcome. Top 
     ranked Indiana University (23-3) was considered to have the 
     best chance at knocking off fifth-ranked Virginia, which some 
     felt wasn't as strong as previous years. Midfielder Claudio 
     Reyna, the nation's top player the previous two seasons, had 
     left a year early to play for the 1994 U.S. World Cup team 
     and then professionally in Germany.
       Indiana, on the other hand, had eight seniors who were 
     hungry for a title after falling short of expectations in 
     previous years. Its midfield also was rated as the nation's 
     best [with two All Americans]. But none of that seemed to 
     matter once the game started.

  I was fortunate to attend the NCAA championship played at Davidson 
University in North Carolina. I can report without equivocation that 
the UVA Cavaliers showed grit, determination, and heart as they 
successfully defended their NCAA championship. Each team member 
displayed courage time and again in a season marked with obstacles and 
during a championship game described as ``more like a rugby match than 
a soccer game.''
  The significance of this team's triumph was best summed up by head 
coach Bruce Arena, who commented that the team ``accomplished something 
that may never be accomplished in Division I men's athletics again. We 
knew that things were a little tough going in, but great teams rise to 
the occasion, and that's what happened here.''
  Coach Bruce Arena and his fine staff--assistant coach George 
Gelnovatch graduate assistant coach Bob Willen, trainer Sue Foreman, 
and managers Elizabeth Williams and Brighid O'Donnell--are to be 
commended for their dedication and hard work.
  Special recognition and attention must, Mr. President, be focused on 
the team's seniors. Each senior--a winner of four national titles--will 
long be remembered as the finest. A.J. Wood and Nate Friends as 
strikers were the best combination of speed, power, and finesse in the 
Nation. Clint Peay overcame injuries and a changed position to remain a 
star. Tain Nix played steady, stellar soccer all year.
  The fine young men who make up the team are true role models for our 
youth, and they also deserve recognition and commendation. The names of 
all members of this great soccer team are to be included in the 
Congressional Record where they will become a permanent part of our 
Nation's history:
  Tom Baker, defender, Plymouth, MI.
  Ryan Borst, midfielder/defender, Ridgefield, CT.
  Diallo Bryan, forward/midfielder, Silver Spring, MD.
  Sean Feary, midfielder/defender, Fairfax Station, VA.
  Mike Fisher, midfielder, Doylestown, PA.
  David Fitzmaurice, midfielder, Arlington, VA.
  Sam Franklin, midfielder, Arlington, VA.
  Nate Friends, forward, Great Falls, VA.
  Scott Hodge, goalkeeper, Oakton, VA.
  Adam Jacoby, goalkeeper, Clifton, VA.
  Stephen Johnson, forward/defender, Lexington, KY.
  Matt Laughlin, midfielder, Fairfax Station, VA.
  Matt Leanard, forward, Fairfax Station, VA.
  Christian Nix, midfielder, Fairfax, VA.
  Clint Peay, defender, Columbia, MD.
  Mark Peters, goalkeeper, Winchester, VA.
  Brandon Pollard, defender, Richmond, VA.
  Key Reid, midfielder, Searchlight, NV.
  Yuri Sagatov, goalkeeper, Fairfax, VA.
  Andriy Shapowal, midfielder, Chagrin Falls, OH.
  Damian Silvera, midfielder, Huntington, NY.
  Joaquin Targhetta, midfielder, Reston, VA.
  Billy Walsh, midfielder, Chatham Township, NY.
  A.J. Wood, forward, Rockville, MD.
  

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