Comeback Falls Short as Cavaliers Downed by Ohio State
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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s soccer team had its comeback effort fall short on Saturday, falling 3-2 to Ohio State in the NCAA Round of 16 at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers, who trailed 3-0 with 27 minutes left, closed to within a goal, but couldn’t find a late equalizer. The Buckeyes (16-4-2) will meet Georgetown in the quarterfinals next week, while the Cavaliers end their season at 15-5-2.
“It is disappointing to lose a game like this,” said Virginia head coach Steve Swanson. “I thought, even down 3-0, we had our chances to win this game. The bottom line is that they finished their chances and we didn’t. I am proud of the effort in the second half to fight back and have a chance at the end. If we could have gotten it tied, I have no doubt we would have won.”
The Buckeyes took an early 1-0 lead in the second minute. Tiffany Cameron made a move inside the box and snuck a shot just inside the near post for her sixth goal of the season. Ohio State doubled their lead in the 27th minute as Danica Wu pounced on a loose ball inside the goal area off a corner kick for her second goal of the season.
In the second half, Ohio State added what turned out to be a crucial third goal in the 58th minute. Lauren Granberg’s shot was saved, but the rebound came right to Lauren Steuer, who tapped in her first goal of the season into the vacated net.
The Cavalier comeback started in the 64th minute. Julia Roberts (Frederick, Md.) took a free kick and played the ball wide to Amanda Fancher (The Colony, Texas). Fancher’s service into the box from the wing was flicked on by Sinead Farrelly (Havertown, Pa.) past the keeper to make the score 3-1. Farrelly nearly scored another in the 70th minute as she headed a cross off the crossbar. Gloria Douglas (Fayetteville, N.C.) drew Virginia within one goal in the 81st minute as Fancher’s ball to far post found her and she looped a header over the goalie and into the net for her seventh goal of the season. The Cavaliers had golden chances to draw even in the final minutes, but a loose ball in the box was poked just wide by Colleen Flanagan (Downingtown, Pa.) with two minutes to play and Kika Toulouse’s (Arlington, Va.) header off a free kick in the final 15 seconds missed just high.
“In a game like this, you can’t dig yourself that deep of a hole,” said Swanson. “I was proud we made a game of it, but was disappointed in how we got down 3-0 in the game.”
Overall, Virginia outshot Ohio State 22-6 in the game. Chantel Jones (Midlothian, Va.) made one save for the Cavaliers, while Katie Baumgardner made nine saves for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State 3, Virginia 2
Ohio State (16-4-2) 2 1 – 3
Virginia (15-5-2) 0 2 – 2
Scoring Summary:
OSU. Tiffany Cameron 6 (unassisted) 2′
OSU. Danica Wu 2 (Lauren Steuer, Cassie Dickerson) 27′
OSU. Lauren Steuer 1 (Lauren Granberg) 58′
UVa. Sinead Farrelly 12 (Amanda Fancher, Julia Roberts) 64′
UVa. Gloria Douglas 7 (Amanda Fancher) 81′
Shots: UVa 22, OSU 6
Corners: UVa 3, OSU 4
Saves: UVa 1 (Jones 1), OSU 9 (Baumgardner 9)
Fouls: UVa 13, OSU 11
Offsides: UVa 0, OSU 1