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Oct. 4, 2002
Final Stats | Video Highlights
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia men’s soccer team recorded its third consecutive shutout of the season after posting a 5-0 victory over the Hartwick Hawks in front of 1,724 spectators this evening at Kl?ckner Stadium. The two teams played through a scoreless first half of play before the Cavaliers erupted for five goals in the second half, sparked by a pair of goals by forward Alecko Eskandarian (Montvale, N.J./Bergen Catholic) – including the game-winner.
Eskandarian gave UVa a 1-0 when he scored his first goal of the contest (the game-winner) at the 51:24 mark. Eric Solomon (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) got the play started when he sent a cross to Ryan Gibbs (West Chester, Pa./East) that was directed to Eskandarian on the other side of the box. Eskandarian gathered Gibbs’ pass and fired a shot into the Hawks’ goal to make it 1-0. Just a little over two minutes later (53:41), Virginia extended its lead to 2-0 when Solomon sent a cross into the box to Gibbs, where Gibbs fired a one-timer from just five yards away for a goal. Eskandarian scored his second goal of the game (his 14th goal of the year) at the 60:56 mark to give the Cavaliers a 3-0 lead when Gibbs and Jonathan Cole (Annapolis, Md./McDonogh) connected on a couple passes to give him a point-blank shot in the box. It was the sixth time this year Eskandarian has scored two goals in one game.
UVa’s Ryan Kelly (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) and Phillip Long (Wilson, N.C./Hunt) each joined in on the scoring frenzy as the duo each posted their second goals of the season. Kelly’s goal was set up by a short cross from just inside the far corner of the box by Rob Wright (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial). Wright sent his pass towards the center of the box where Kelly gathered it and fired a shot into goal at the 65:47 mark to make it a 4-0 contest. Long’s goal came at the 79:10 mark when Solomon and Joe Vide (Raleigh, N.C./Bavarian International School) set up a breakaway shot for Long that resulted in a goal to give UVa a 5-0 advantage. Solomon’s assist was his third of the game and his fifth of the season.
Virginia goalkeeper David Comfort (Richmond, Va./Monacan) made three saves in the UVa win, while the Hawks’ Moate made four saves in the loss.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improves to 6-4-0 overall, while the loss drops Hartwick’s record to 5-4-1 on the season. UVa improves to 2-0-0 all-time against the Hawks.
The Cavaliers will return to action on Sunday, October 13th when UVa travels to Clemson, S.C. to face the Clemson Tigers in an Atlantic Coast Conference match. The contest is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM and will be played at Clemson’s Historic Riggs Field. The Hawks will return to action on Sunday, October 6th when Hartwick travels to Teaneck, N.J. to face the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights. The match is scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM.
Scoring 1 2 FHartwick (5-4-1) 0 0 0Virginia (6-4-0) 0 5 0
Goals: Virginia 5 - Eskandarian (Solomon, Gibbs) @ 51:24, Gibbs (Solomon) @ 53:41,Eskandarian (Gibbs, Cole) @ 60:56, Kelly (Wright) @ 65:47, Long (Solomon, Vide) @ 79:10.Hartwick - none.Shots: Virginia - 16, Hartwick - 4.Corner Kicks: Virginia - 3, Hartwick - 1.Saves: Hartwick - 4, Virginia 3.Fouls: Virginia - 23, Hartwick -17.Cautions: Hartwick 2 - Avetrani, Herrera. Virginia 1 - Hartman.Attendance: 1,724.
— UVa —