Cavaliers Down South Carolina 3-0 to Reach NCAA Round of 16
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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s soccer team advanced to the round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season with a 3-0 second round win over South Carolina at Klöckner Stadium on Sunday. The Cavaliers (15-4-2) will host Ohio State in the round of 16 next Saturday, Nov. 20, while the Gamecocks end their season with a 15-6-4 record.
“Our performance today was superb,” said Virginia head coach Steve Swanson. “Our decisions and execution were much better today than on Friday (in the first round vs. Lehigh). Our technical ability came through today. When we move the ball well, we feel confident that we can create chances and it is just a matter of finishing. Today, we did a good job of finishing those chances.”
The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute of play. Chantel Jones’ (Midlothian, Va.) long pass was flicked on by Meghan Lenczyk (McLean, Va.) behind the defense and onto the run of Sinead Farrelly (Havertown, Pa.), who slotted home her 11th goal of the season. Virginia took that 1-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Cavaliers doubled their lead in the 61st minute. South Carolina’s clearance of a cross went straight to Lindsey Miller (Nashua, N.H.) at the top of the box, who fired in her third goal of the season. Julia Roberts (Frederick, Md.) closed out the scoring with a penalty kick goal in the 82nd minute after Caroline Miller (Rockville, Md.) was taken down in the box.
“The first goal is always important in games like these,” said Swanson. “Once we took the lead, it forced them to come out and put more pressure on us. That opened up more space in behind for us to take advantage of, and we were able to get a couple more in the second half.”
Overall, Virginia outshot South Carolina 18-4 and had a 6-0 edge in corner kicks. Jones made two saves for the Cavaliers to post her 10th shutout of the season, also extending her school record to 33 career shutouts. Mollie Patton made six saves for the Gamecocks.
The Cavaliers meet Ohio State in the round of 16 on Saturday, Nov. 20. Game time at Klöckner Stadium is 2 p.m.
Virginia 3, South Carolina 0
South Carolina (15-6-4) 0 0 – 0
Virginia (15-4-2) 1 2 – 3
Scoring Summary:
UVa. Sinead Farrelly 11 (Meghan Lenczyk 6, Chantel Jones 2) 21′
UVa. Lindsey Miller 3 (unassisted) 61′
UVa. Julia Roberts 5 (penalty kick) 82′
Shots: UVa 18, SC 4
Corners: UVa 6, SC 0
Saves: UVa 2 (Jones 2), SC 6 (Patton 6)
Fouls: UVa 10, SC 6
Offsides: UVa 2, SC 3