On a rain-soaked night at George Mason Stadium, the No. 14 Virginia men’s soccer team dealt the Patriots their second consecutive loss as the Cavaliers battled to a 1-0 victory.
Virginia (7-3-1, 2-1-1 ACC) – now winners of three straight – scored the lone goal in the 56th minute. Junior midfielder Todd Wharton ripped a shot that deflected off of senior midfielder Eric Bird into the net. It was Bird’s and Wharton’s second goal and assist, respectively, of the season.
The Patriots (7-2-2, 0-1-0 Atlantic 10) did not let Virginia break away in the first half, as both teams took five shots — including four shots on goal for each squad — and picked up six fouls apiece in the first 45 minutes.
It appeared Virginia had taken the 1-0 lead in the 35th minute when junior forward Darius Madison — who received a red card ejection in the 76th minute — kicked in a rebound off a free kick, but Madison was called offsides on the play.
But the Cavaliers assumed the role of the more dominant power conference team coming out of halftime. Virginia took the first six second-half shots, the fifth being Bird’s score.
Senior goalkeeper Calle Brown recorded four first-half saves — making several impressive stops of a wet ball — and added another in the second half.
Virginia outshot the Patriots on the game, 12-8, and had a 9-2 advantage on corner kicks.
The Cavaliers will next face Duke Saturday in Klöckner Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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