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Virginia Men's Soccer Falls To #12 VCU In Regular Season Finale, 2-1
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Nov. 7, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia men’s soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to the #12 ranked VCU Rams in front of 2,227 spectators tonight at UVa’s Kl?ckner Stadium in a non-conference match in the regular season finale for both teams. VCU’s Matthew Delicate scored the game-winning goal at the 59:27 mark to break a 1-1 tie game to give the Rams their first ever victory over Virginia in men’s soccer. Prior to today’s match, VCU was 0-19-1 against UVa. The loss was also the Cavaliers’ third consecutive defeat this season.
After playing through a scoreless first half, VCU scored the first goal of the game 3:22 into the second period at 48:22 when Delicate and Cristian Neagu teamed together on a pair of passes to McColm Cephas in the box. Cephas made an acrobatic shot that found its way past UVa’s goalkeeper to put the Rams on top, 1-0. But VCU’s lead was short-lived, as the Cavaliers came right back and tied the game at 1-1 just 42 seconds later at 49:04 when Hunter Freeman (Allen, Texas/Bradenton Academy) played a ball out top to an open Zane Hill (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge). Hill gathered Freeman’s feed and fired a one-timer that tied that game at one apiece. Hill’s goal was the first of his collegiate career.
With the scored tied at 1-1, the Rams’ Delicate gave VCU the lead for good when he connected on the game-winning goal at 59:27. The Rams’ Matt Pauls sent a light cross into the box that Delicate touched into goal for the game-winning score. Delicate’s goal was his 10th of the season and his fourth game-winning goal this year. VCU then held off a late UVa charge for the victory.
The Rams’ goalkeeper Saul Montero made a game-high four saves and only allowed one ball to get past him in the win. UVa goalkeeper Ryan Burke (Cumberland Foreside, Maine/Greely) made two saves in defeat.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 8-9-0 overall. The victory improves VCU’s record to 14-4-0 on the season. UVa is now 19-1-1 all-time against VCU.
The Cavaliers will return to action on Wednesday, November 12th at 8:00 PM when UVa competes in the 2003 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Championships at the SAS Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C. Virginia, seeded #3 in the tournament, will face Clemson, seeded #6 in the tournament, in the quarterfinals. If the Cavaliers defeat the Tigers, UVa would advance to face the winner of the #2 Wake Forest vs. #7 Duke match in the semifinals on Friday, November 14th at 8:00 PM. If Virginia were to advance to the ACC finals, the ACC Championship match is scheduled for Sunday, November 16th at 1:00 PM.
Scoring 1 2 FVCU (14-4-0) 0 2 2Virginia (8-9-0) 0 1 1
Goals: VCU 2 - McColm Cephas @ 48:22 (Matthew Delicate, Cristian Neagu),Matthew Delicate @ 59:27 (Matt Pauls).Virginia 1 - Zane Hill @ 49:04 (Hunter Freeman).Shots: Virginia 16, VCU 9.Corner Kicks: Virginia 9, VCU 1Saves: VCU 4, Virginia 2.Fouls: VCU 22, Virginia 14.Offside: VCU 3, Virginia 1Cautions: None.Attendance: 2,227.
— UVa —