UVM suspends Alves, Rovira before regular season finale

University of Vermont athletic director Jeff Schulman announced Wednesday night that men's soccer players Geo Alves and Dani Rovira would be suspended for the team's regular season finale due to "an eligibility infraction that occurred last January, prior to their enrollment at UVM." 

Alves and Rovira, both members of the New England Revolution's development academy, were invited to participate in a preseason camp with the club's MLS team that included "informal, joint scrimmages with other clubs," according to a statement.

Under NCAA guidelines, players are allowed to practice with professionals under specific conditions but doing so against outside competition is considered a violation, according to the statement.

The school said it learned of the possible violation over the weekend and immediately notified the NCAA and America East Conference. The NCAA required that both players be held out of the contest at UNH and is continuing to review any further implications with Vermont. 

"I obviously feel bad for Geo, Dani, and our entire team, but we accept the decision of the NCAA, are cooperating fully with the review, and will move on with tonight's game," Schulman said in the statement.

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