Lenczyk's Hat Trick Lifts Virginia Over Liberty 5-0
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CHARLOTTESVILLE The No. 7 Virginia women’s soccer team remained unbeaten on the season with a 5-0 victory over Liberty Friday night at Klckner Stadium. Meghan Lenczyk (McLean, Va.) scored three second half goals to post her first career hat trick and lift the Cavaliers to their second win of the season (2-0-0).
“In a game like this, the onus is on us to create and force the play,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “In the first half I thought we were a little impatient in that regard. We got that early goal and then lost focus a little bit. We did a better job in the second half and did well to finish some chances.”
The Cavaliers took an early lead in the sixth minute of play. Caitlin Miskel (Boca Raton, Fla.) dribbled into the box from the flank and slotted a shot just inside the far post for her first goal of the season. Despite outshooting the Flames (0-2-0) 18-1 in the first half, the Miskel tally was the lone goal on the board at halftime.
Virginia doubled its lead in the 62nd minute as Lauren Alwine (Elizabethtown, Pa.) sent a cross into the box that Lenczyk headed in for her first goal of the night and of the season. Less than a minute later Colleen Flanagan (Downingtown, Pa.) sent a long ball over the top that found Lenczyk’s run and she scored on the breakaway. In the 77th minute Lenczyk struck for the third time on the evening as Katie Carr’s (Williamsburg, Va.) header off a corner kick was saved off the line by a Liberty defender, but the ball landed right at the feet of Lenczyk, who tapped in the rebound. Three first-years combined on the final goal of the evening in the 83rd minute. Amanda Fancher (The Colony, Texas) sent a ball forward that was headed by Katie Starsia (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) onto the run of Molly McKeon (Midlothian, Va.). McKeon took a touch and fired a blast from 25 yards that curled over the keeper and just inside the far post.
“For as many shots and as much possession that we had, we needed to do a better job of finishing off a game,” said Swanson. “It was still 1-0 in the 60th minute and they were still in it. Meghan did a great job in the second half in finishing some good goals.”
Lenczyk’s hat trick was the first by a Cavalier since the 2004 season. That year Kelly Hammond scored three times in a 6-0 win over James Madison in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Overall the Cavaliers outshot the Flames 38-1 and had a 11-1 corner kick advantage. Celeste Miles (Garland, Texas) made notched her second shutout of the season, while Karen Blocker had 10 saves in goal for Liberty.
The Cavaliers return to action next Sunday when they host VCU at 6 p.m. The game is the first part of a soccer doubleheader with the Cavalier men hosting SMU at 8 p.m.
VIRGINIA 5, LIBERTY 0
Liberty (0-2-0) 0 0 – 0
#7 Virginia (2-0-0) 1 4 – 5
Scoring:
UVa – Caitlin Miskel 1 (unassisted) 6’
UVa – Meghan Lenczyk 1 (Lauren Alwine 2) 62’
UVa – Meghan Lenczyk 2 (Collen Flanagan 1) 63’
UVa – Meghan Lenczyk 3 (Katie Carr 1) 77’
UVa – Molly McKeon (Katie Starsia 1, Amanda Fancher 1) 83’
Cautions
YC Alli Fries (UVa) 36’
Shots: UVa 38, Liberty 1
Corners: UVa 11, Liberty 1
Saves: UVa 0 (Miles 0), Liberty 11 (Blocker 10, Team 1)
Fouls: UVa 12, Liberty 10
Weather: 80 degrees, humid
Attendance: 931
GAME NOTES: Lenczyk was the first Virginia player to record a hat trick since the 2004 season, a span of 73 games and the ninth hat trick in the history of the program … The Cavaliers extend their winning streak to 19 games against in-state opponents, outscoring them 68-1 in those games … Virginia extends its home unbeaten streak to 15 games (13-0-2) … McKeon, Carr, and Starsia all made their collegiate debuts … Flanagan, Carr, McKeon, Starsia, and Fancher all recorded their first career point.