UVa Women's Soccer Advances To NCAA Quarterfinals
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Nov. 24, 2001
Charlottesville, Va. – The Uva women’s soccer team continues its successful postseason run, adding a 4-0 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday night. The Cavaliers pick up their 17th win of the season, one win away from tying the school mark of 18 wins set in 1990. Cincinnati closes their season at 20-4, and entering tonight’s matchup with UVa, had only surrendered a total of 10 goals in 23 games this season, with goalkeeper Christy Hoffman leading the nation prior to postseason play, with 14 shutouts. The Cavaliers advance to play Santa Clara, with a date and site to be determined.
“We are very excited right now,” head coach Steve Swanson said. “This is what we are aiming for, a chance to advance to the NCAA Final Four. We are very anxious for the next game.”
Lindsay Gusick had another monumental performance, netting her second hat trick of the season and assisting on another goal. It’s not the first time the Livonia, Mich., native scored seven points in a game, as this is a repeat performance from her seven-point night against Liberty on Sept. 26, where she also had a hat trick and an assist. Lori Lindsey scored the other goal, giving her 10 for the season, and setting a new career-high.
Gusick scored the eventual game-winner, her team-best seventh of the season, just six minutes into the game. Ashley Meeker set up Gusick on the left side of the net, about ten yards out. Gusick then fired a shot that went over the keeper, and into the right corner of the net. For Meeker, it was her fourth assist of the season, and she is now tied for third on the team in scoring with 12 points. Gusick’s second goal of the game came 20 minutes later, as she scored from in front of the right side of the net, which left the Cavaliers with a 2-0 lead at halftime. Katie Bunch took the ball downfield, piercing through several Cincinnati defenders, then fired a pass to Gusick for the easy goal. For Bunch, it’s her third assist of the season, her second of the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes for this team to win right now,” Gusick said. “If my role is to score goals, then I will live up to that role.”
Lori Lindsey, who led the team with five scoring chances on the night, was able to connect at the 59:44 mark on an assist from Gusick. Lindsey took a sharp shot from in front of the net, hitting the right corner and collecting her 10th goal of the season, a new career-high.
“I’m very excited,” Lindsey said. “This is what we’ve been looking forward to all year. We have worked hard and we deserve this.”
Gusick completed her second career hat trick on an unassisted goal with eight minutes remaining in the game, taking a shot from 12 yards out on the left side, lifting it over goalkeeper Hoffman’s head, clinching the 4-0 victory for the Cavaliers.
“I think our seniors have done a lot of sacrificing and certainly a lot of leadership,” Swanson added. “That has been the real key to our success. There is no team in the country that I would rather be coaching right now.”
NOTES – Anne Abernethy made her 10th start of the season, and picked up her fourth shutout of the season, making two saves … UVa held Cincinnati to six shots, including just two in the first half … Gusick continues to climb the charts on many school records, as her 17 goals this season is the second-highest single-season total at UVa … Angela Hucles scored 17 goals in 1996, and also holds the school-record with 19 goals in 1997 … Gusick’s 37 points this season is only second to Hucles’ 41 points scored in 1997 … Lindsey now has 73 points for her career, which is eighth on the school’s all-time mark, while her 32 career goals are sixth-most … The UVa defense has held opponents to 11 shutouts this season, and limited the opposing team to 10 or fewer shots in 17 of 22 games this season, with a record of 15-1-1 in those 17 games.
BOX SCORECincinnati 0 0 0Virginia 2 2 4
ShotsCincinnati 2 4 6Virginia 7 13 20
Corner kicksCincinnati 0 0 0Virginia 2 2 4
SavesCincinnati 5 4 9Virginia 1 1 2
FoulsCincinnati 5 5 10Virginia 1 4 5
SCORING SUMMARY1. 6:06 UVa Gusick (15) – asst. Meeker2. 26:37 UVa Gusick (16) – asst. Bunch3. 59:44 UVa Lindsey (10) – asst. Gusick4. 82:17 UVa Gusick (17) – unassited
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