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Sept. 12, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE – The No. 18 ranked Virginia women’s soccer team posted one of the biggest wins in school history Friday night, defeating No. 2 Santa Clara 4-1 at Kl?ckner Stadium as part of the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic. The Cavaliers scored four unanswered goals, three in the second half to defeat the Broncos through a constant rain.
“This is a great win for our program,” stated Virginia head coach Steve Swanson. “However, we have to keep it in perspective. It is only one win. Our goal this weekend was to win our tournament, which we haven’t done the last few years. We have a tough game against USC on Sunday that we must now focus on.”
The Cavaliers (3-1-1) took control of the game early, peppering the Bronco goal with several good chances. However, Santa Clara (2-1-2) would take the early lead as they scored a goal against the run of play. Jessica Ballweg’s clear out of the defensive end found a streaking Megan Kakadelas who scored on the breakaway. Virginia would quickly tie the game just four minutes later. Shannon Foley (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), playing in her first collegiate game, played a ball into the box for Noelle Keselica (Gaithersburg, Md.), who’s shot went between Bronco goalkeeper Alyssa Sobolik’s legs and into the net. The score remained 1-1 into halftime.
Virginia would continue its pressure the Broncos to begin the second half and in the 56th minute took the lead. Sarah Lane (Wheaton, Ill.) found Kelly Hammond (Bowie, Md.) breaking on the left side. Hammond collected the ball and fired a shot at a severe angle that went just inside the far post. The Cavaliers added to their lead in the 75th minute, as Ariel Thompson (Salem, Va.) scored a pair of goals to put the game out of reach. She first tapped in a cross from Lindsay Gusick (Livonia, Mich.) before Gusick sprung her on a breakaway 49 seconds later.
Overall, Virginia outshot Santa Clara 14-7. Anne Abernethy (Atlanta, Ga.) made three saves for UVa, while Sobolik made four at the other end.
The Virginia Nike Soccer Classic will conclude Sunday at Kl?ckner Stadium. In the first game, Penn State, a 3-2 winner over USC in Friday’s first game, plays Santa Clara at 11:00 a.m. That game is followed by Virginia and USC at 1:30 p.m. The Cavaliers are looking for their first home tournament title since 1999.
No. 18 Virginia 4, No. 2 Santa Clara 1
| Scoring | 1 | 2 | F |
| Santa Clara (2-1-2, 0-0) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Virginia (3-1-1, 0-0) | 1 | 3 | 4 |
1. SCU. Kakadelas (Ballweg) 32:04
2. UVa Keselica (Foley) 36: 49
3. UVa Hammond (Lane) 55:45
4. UVa Thompson (Gusick, Hammond) 74:01
5. UVa Thompson (Gusick) 74:50
Shots: UVa. 14, SCU 7
Corners: UVa. 1, SCU 4
Saves: UVa. 3, SCU 4
Fouls: UVa. 11, WM 9
Attendence: 453