The Virginia women’s soccer team remained undefeated over the weekend, defeating No. 12 Louisville and Boston College at Klockner Stadium. The No. 1 Cavaliers (14-0-3, 6-0-3 ACC) won by a combined score of 9-1, extending their winning streak to four games.
Game 1: Virginia 3, Louisville 0
No. 1 Virginia toppled No. 12 Louisville at home Thursday night to remain undefeated on the season. The Cavaliers (14-0-3, 6-0-3 ACC) were led by senior forward Meghan McCool, who scored two goals, and junior midfielder Sydney Zandi, who buried a shot in the final seconds of the game to produce a 3-0 final against the Cardinals (12-2-2, 5-2-2 ACC).
While Virginia looked rushed and allowed multiple turnovers during the beginning of the first half, the Cavaliers quickly found their offensive rhythm.
McCool converted in the 23rd minute and launched a perfectly placed ball into the left corner of the goal. Sophomore forward Rebecca Jarrett served the assist as she found a pocket of space between Louisville lines, passing to McCool at the top of the box. Junior goalkeeper Gabby Kouzelos had no chance to save the attempt as McCool found the back of the net.
Freshman forward Diana Ordonez and senior forward Alissa Gorzak had two other dangerous chances in the first half, but the Cavaliers went into the break up just 1-0.
The Cardinals’ defense finally broke down in the 58th minute, as McCool recorded a second goal to extend Virginia’s lead to 2-0. Ordonez set up the play as she slipped the ball to McCool in the box. The senior chipped the ball past the Louisville keeper for her 12th goal on the season.
Zandi generated excitement in the final seconds of the match as she scored Virginia’s third goal of the night. She buried her third goal on the season into the left post to push Virginia to a 3-0 final score.
“I thought our decision making and our attack was good and more consistent than it’s been,” Coach Steve Swanson said of the match. “I thought we were patient when we needed to be, and I thought we were decisive in going forward when we needed to be.”
Game 2: Virginia 6, Boston College 1
While the score suggests otherwise, the 6-1 victory against Boston College wasn’t Virginia’s greatest performance of the season. The Cavaliers scored a tremendous six goals against the Eagles (8-7-2, 1-7-1 ACC), but allowed Boston College to hang with them through parts of the match.
“[Boston College] never gave up and they were constantly a threat attacking-wise, but I just never felt we had the game by the scruff of the neck,” Swanson said. “You feel like you want to have control of games like that but I never felt it got to that point.”
McCool and sophomore forward Ashlynn Serepca each recorded goals in the first 45 minutes of the match to send the Cavaliers into the break up 2-0.
McCool found the back of the net for the 13th time this season in the 14th minute, putting Virginia on top 1-0 off a deflection. Serepca extended the lead to 2-0 in the 42nd minute off an assist by Gorzak.
The Eagles only posted one shot through the initial period as Virginia was able to keep the ball out of scoring range.
To start the second half, Virginia added pressure against the Boston College backline. In the 59th minute, with the Boston College goalkeeper caught off her line in an attempt to steal the ball from McCool, Serepca picked up the ball and buried a strike for her second goal on the day to put Virginia up 3-0 over the Eagles.
Another goal came minutes later in the 62nd minute as Zandi scored her fourth goal on the season.
Junior goalkeeper Laurel Ivory’s shutout streak was taken away by the Eagles in the 68th minute. Ivory had gone 707:21 minutes since her last goal allowed in a penalty kick against Wake Forest.
Virginia added to the count with Petersen’s goal in the 77th minute. The senior, who celebrates her birthday Monday, scored her first goal on the season.
“It was really exciting,” Petersen said. “I haven’t scored since my sophomore year so to get a goal in the back of the net was really exciting and it’s always good to score.”
The Cavaliers kept up their attack, and freshman forward Emma Dawson — who had no shots prior to the match — posted her first career goal in the 79th minute.
The Cavaliers have just one match left in their regular season schedule and remain one of two undefeated teams.
“I think we’re just in a great place,” Serepca said. “Everyone has the same goals and same drive and that’s what matters … we can all just play for the same thing, play for each other.”
Virginia concludes regular season play on the road against Syracuse Thursday and kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
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