Cavaliers Roll Past Hokies 4-0 to Reach NCAA Quarterfinals
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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The eighth-ranked Virginia women’s soccer team reached the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in six seasons with a 4-0 victory over rival Virginia Tech on Sunday in a third round match at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers (17-4-2) will visit Florida State in the quarterfinals on Friday at 2 p.m.
Morgan Brian (St. Simons Island, Ga.) had two goals and an assist to lead Virginia, while Lauren Alwine (Elizabethtown, Pa.) had a goal and an assist and Erica Hollenberg (Fairfax Station, Va.) had two assists.
“We have a lot of respect for Virginia Tech and they had some great results down the stretch,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “We fully expected a tough game and it shows how well our team played that we scored four goals on them. We have been in their position the last few years, losing in this round, and it’s a tough way to end the season. I am just so pleased for our team that we are moving on to next weekend.”
The Cavaliers took control of the game in the first half with three goals in a span of three-and-a-half minutes. Virginia opened the scoring in the 28th minute as Alwine notched her fourth goal of the season after Brian found her open in front of goal following a Hollenberg cross. Two minutes later the lead was doubled. Following a foul near the top of the area, Julia Roberts (Frederick, Md.) took the 25-yard free kick and it deflected off the top of the wall and in her seventh goal of the season, her fourth coming on a direct kick. The Cavaliers added another goal in the 31st minute as Brian scored off a cross from Molly Menchel (Alexandria, Va.).
In the second half, Virginia tallied once more in the 72nd minute. Alwine’s cross went to Hollenberg, who tapped it to Brian, who slotted home her second goal of the game, her 11th goal of the season.
“We started off a little bit slow, but we started to get some momentum as the first half went on,” said Swanson. “We had some chances right before that span of goals, so I felt confident we were going to get one. The goals we have been scoring recently are a result of how well, and how smart, we have been playing. I feel like we are playing our best soccer of the season right now.”
Virginia outshot Virginia Tech 22-5 in the game and had a 6-3 corner kick edge. Chantel Jones (Midlothian, Va.) made two saves to record her Virginia single-season record 14th shutout of the season, also extending her NCAA record to 47 career shutouts. Dayle Colpitts made four saves for the Hokies.
It will be the third meeting of the season between the Cavaliers and the Seminoles. Virginia won the regular season meeting 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 8 at Klöckner Stadium. Florida State won 2-1 in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament earlier this month.
#8 Virginia 4, Virginia Tech 0
Virginia Tech (14-8-1) 0 0 – 0
#8 Virginia (17-4-2) 3 1 – 4
Scoring Summary
1. UVa. Lauren Alwine 4 (Morgan Brian 8, Erica Hollenberg 9) 28′
2. UVa. Julia Roberts 7 (unassisted) 30′
3. UVa. Morgan Brian 10 (Molly Menchel 8) 31′
4. UVa. Morgan Brian 11 (Erica Hollenberg 10, Lauren Alwine 9) 72′
Shots: UVa 22, VT 5
Corners: UVa 6, VT 3
Saves: UVa 2 (Chantel Jones 2), VT 4 (Dayle Colpitts 4)
Fouls: UVa 12, VT 14
Attendance: 1,094