Although Virginia women’s soccer said goodbye to All-American senior midfielder Morgan Brian after the College Cup in 2014, the program returns as strong as ever in 2015 — and not just on paper. That was clear Sunday afternoon, when the second-ranked Cavaliers (1-0, 0-0 ACC) throttled UNC Wilmington 8-0 to kickoff their regular-season campaign before a rowdy home crowd.
Seniors Makenzy Doniak and Emily Sonnett, who’ve been charged with filling a leadership gap left by Brian, gave their all from the first whistle. Doniak netted a goal in the second minute and later distributed assists to three different Virginia players, including sophomore Veronica Latsko and juniors Alexis Shaffer and Morgan Reuther. Meanwhile, Sonnett anchored the back four and also converted a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
Junior Meghan Cox followed Doniak’s prompt goal with one of her own, a header off Shaffer’s well-driven free kick in the 25th minute. Cox, who tallied four goals in total a season ago, completed a hat trick with another header in the 55th minute and rebound in the 67th.
Overall, Virginia outshot the Seahawks (0-2, 0-0 CAA) 29 to 4. Cavalier keepers and juniors Jessie Ferrari and Morgan Stearns — who each played a half — cruised to a clean sheet. Eight to nil was a great result for coach Steve Swanson and his squad against an opponent that finished 2014 with a record of 7-9-2. But Cal Poly will roll into Charlottesville on the 28th and test Virginia’s resolve.
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