AKHEEL RODNEY, University of Virginia

Thanksgiving dinner 2009 at the home of Virginia's men's head soccer coach George Gelnovatch was a family affair: A soccer family affair with over 50 people.

Team coaches, their families and the Cavalier men's soccer team gorged themselves on turkey and all the trimmings. Thanksgiving was not front and center in the minds of all those who went back for a second helping of stuffing or sweet potatoes. Instead, it was the chance to win the NCAA men's soccer tournament that had everyone huddled at Coach Gelnovatch's Charlottesville home.

“We stayed at school for two-a-days and studying,” said Akheel Rodney, the Elmont, Long Island freshman who finished his initial college soccer campaign as a member of the national champion squad that prevailed on penalty kicks against Akron on a cold, miserable Sunday afternoon in early December in Cary, North Carolina.

Rodney did not see the field in the finals. A groin injury suffered earlier in the season moved him down in the playing rotation. Initially a starter, his playing time was reduced when Virginia changed from a two forward alignment to one. In the new setup, he played about 20 minutes a match as a midfielder.

“In coach's rotation, whoever is hottest at the time gets to play,” Rodney remarked ,slouched down sipping a post-workout bottle of water on a couch at Elmont coach Pat Corvetti's Rockville Centre home. After his injury, his twenty minutes a game was awarded to others, such as Brian Ownby, a fellow freshman. Ownby never relinquished the spot and indeed, he was solid off the bench in the national final.

I asked Rodney, who scored 67 goals in his high school career and one his first year (vs. Old Dominion that tied the score) whether he was disappointed about the playing time at the end of the season.

“No,” he said. “It just makes me want to work harder to get back on the field next year.”

So what has it been like these past six months, moving from the Northeast to the South and attempting to compete for a spot on a National soccer power while making the grade academically? For Rodney, it meant showing up in Charlottesville on July 5th to take two classes. While he was acclimating academically, he was also attending “Captain's” practices

“That really helped,” he said, “ because I got to know some of the guys and get into great shape.” These practices were seven days a week. Once fall practice began, Akheel and the others balanced school work and soccer.

“How much time do you have during the season to hit the books?”

“Four hours a night, five or six nights a week. And—we have a freshman advisor that we have to show all our completed work to.”

“What are the athlete's perks at UVA?”

Ahkeel smiled. “We have our own athlete's dining hall in the basketball arena. The food is definitely better there and a lot more selections. We also got first call on dorms. We're in the ones with ac.”

“What about uniforms?”

“We get running shoes and cleats from Nike. They give us hoodies and stadium jackets. When we're on the road, we wear Virginia polos, sweat pants and running shoes.”

“Was there any rookie initiation?”

“No, not really. We have to carry the equipment to and from the bus; move goals in practice.”

“No traditions?”

“Well, during the A.C.C. Tournament, the seven of us freshmen had to sing, “I Will Survive” at dinner one night.”

“How did that go?”

“Awful. We were terrible.”

We discussed how the college game at a D-1 power was different for even a player of Akheel's caliber.

“Every player has a defined role,” he said. “Like a forward holds the ball until he involves others. Also, you take every moment of the game seriously. On a defensive corner—just don't let your man score. You don't want to let your teammates down.”

To Rodney, the game is much faster, more demanding on the body.

“You need that one day off a week you get.”

The weeks of the tournament were a roller coaster ride. The team had to take their finals early, prepped by the academic advisors. On campus, the players were celebrities, stopped everywhere, their stature growing with each victory. When they beat Wake Forest for the third time, a grueling affair that climaxed with a shootout, they knew that they had the mentality to win.

….It's January and this season is over and the inevitable getting ready for next year begins anew when Akheel returns to school. Seniors Jonathan Villaneuva and Ross LaBeaux are graduating. Sophomore sensation, Tony Tchani is leaving school after he was scooped up by the New York Red Bull as the second pick in the MLS super draft. Someone has to step up to fill those starting berths in 2010. Lifting, running and playing three times a week, Akheel will commence the process of preparing to compete. During the spring break, the Cavaliers will travel to Florida to train and play friendlies against the U-18 national team and a side from Venezuela.

Akheel Rodney had adjusted to it all. Although his major is undecided, he flourished in his first semester with a solid 3.2 average. He is ready to meet the next challenges, both on and off the field.