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No. 7 Virginia Defeats American, 3-0
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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The seventh-ranked Virginia men’s soccer team remained unbeaten in non-conference play this season by defeating American, 3-0, Tuesday night at Klöckner Stadium. For the year, Virginia has an 8-0-1 record vs. non-conference foes. Jonathan Villanueva (Grand Prairie, Texas), Will Bates (Chester, Va.) and Tony Tchani (Norfolk, Va.) each scored a goal for the Cavaliers.
With the win, Virginia improved to 11-3-2 overall. The Cavaliers shut out their fourth-consecutive opponent, while goalkeeper and this week’s ACC Co-Player of the Week Diego Restrepo posted his eighth shutout of the season. He finished with three saves.
“American is a good team,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “Our guys came into this game with a good mentality and did a great job of moving the ball around.”
Villanueva took a free kick with his left foot from the edge of the penalty box area in the 41st minute and put the shot on target. American goalkeeper Matt Makowski dived to his right, but Villanueva’s shot found the lower left corner of the net.
For Villanueva, it was his first goal of the season and the ninth of his career.
Bates (Chester, Va.) added an insurance goal in the 54th minute when he headed in a cross from Jordan Evans (Chester, Va.). It was Bates’ team-high seventh goal of the year and Evans first career assist.
Tchani made it 3-0 in the 65th minute, off of assists by Hunter Jumper (Plano, Texas) and Chase Neinken (Roswell, Ga.). Jumper sent a ball across the box from the left side, which was headed on by Neinken. Tchani gathered the pass and finished for his fifth goal of the year and won its ninth-straight contest vs. the Eagles.
Virginia out-shot American 18-8 and had an 9-3 advantage in corner kicks. Virginia matched its highest offensive output of the year with three goals.
Makowski finished with eight saves for AU.
Up next is the regular-season finale on Saturday, Nov. 7. Kick-off from Klöckner Stadium is 7 p.m., vs. No. 16 NC State. Seedings and pairings for the 2009 ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament will be announced on Monday, Nov. 9.