With temperatures at Turf Field better suited for an ice hockey game, the University of Richmond locked out No. 20 Virginia 1-0 Wednesday night. The Cavaliers (8-9) fall below .500 for the first time since being 2-3 September 11.
The decisive goal came with 6:20 to go in the game off a Richmond short corner. After several quick passes in front of the goal, the ball was served to the far post where the Spiders deflected it into the netting for what would turn out to be the game-winner.
After the game, disappointment abounded for Virginia.
"Once again we waited until the second half to play hard," Allie Flynn said. "Our first touch on the ball and our possession really hurt us. I thought we were the better team today, I just don't think we played like it."
Coming into Wednesday's tilt with Richmond, the Cavaliers had been playing their best hockey of the season over the past two weeks. Despite coming up on the short end of the stick against top five teams UNC, American and Wake Forest, the Cavaliers appeared to be peaking at the right moment.
A win over the Spiders would have validated that the Cavaliers were indeed getting over the hump.
"It's very frustrating to feel like you're taking a step back in overall performance," Virginia coach Jess Wilk said. "We need to get back to basics."
The Cavaliers were not lacking for opportunities to score, generating several short corners throughout the game. Each time, though, Richmond was up to the task defensively. Despite constant pressure in the Spiders' zone, Wilk was frustrated by the shots Virginia was able to manage.
"We were generating [offense], and we were sustaining it. We just weren't generating quality opportunities," Wilk said. "I don't think we helped ourselves at all on both sides of the ball."
Goalkeeper Katherine Blair was once again a stone wall in the cage, recording four saves. With 7:40 left in the game, Blair made a crowd-pleasing save to keep the game scoreless. After Richmond inserted the ball off a short corner, the ball was lofted into the air towards the goal. But Blair swatted it away, denying the Spiders.
Earlier in the game, with the first half winding down, Blair once again prevented a Richmond short corner from wounding the Cavaliers, making two kick saves on consecutive shots.
Short corners, though, ultimately were the undoing of Virginia once again.
"We're doing a much better job defending," Wilk said. "[But] clearly we need to be a little bit better with our attacking execution."
Virginia generated more short corners in the second half than Richmond.
The Cavaliers' last four-game losing streak came nearly a year ago, when Virginia dropped its final three games of the regular season before losing to Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament.
To avoid repeating last year's disappointing finish, Virginia will need to rebound against No. 2 Duke Sunday and in next week's ACC Tournament.
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