Cavaliers Complete Texas Trip with 2-1 Win Over SMU
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Sept. 2, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 7 Virginia women’s soccer team ran its win streak to five with a 2-1 victory over SMU on Sunday at the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Cavaliers (5-1) completed their trip to Austin with a pair of wins, after defeating host Texas 3-0 on Friday night. The Mustangs fell to 2-3 on the season with the loss.
Caroline Miller (Rockville, Md.) and Julia Roberts (Frederick, Md.) scored second half goals to lift the Cavaliers to their second win of the trip. It marked the first time since 2004 that Virginia traveled to an in-season tournament and won both games.
“It is huge to come on the road against two quality opponents in these conditions, with the heat and the wind, and come away with two wins,” said assistant coach Ron Raab. “It is a credit to the team to be able to adapt to those circumstances and play well enough to get two wins. Today, we were a little sluggish with the ball at our feet in the first half, but in the second half were a little smarter and finished some of the chances we created.”
In the first half, Virginia had the better of the play, but neither team could find the opening goal of the match. The Cavaliers outshot the Mustangs 7-3 before halftime.
The Cavaliers wasted little time taking the lead in the second half. Just 23 seconds after intermission, Miller took a pass from Kate Norbo (Roanoke, Va.) and blasted a shot from the top of the box into the far upper corner of the net. It was Miller’s third goal of the season, and her second on the weekend.
Virginia extended the lead to 2-0 in the 87th minute. Makenzy Doniak (Chino Hills, Calif.) was taken down just outside of the box to set up a free kick. Roberts curled the free kick over the wall and into the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
“I definitely get excited when there is a free kick near the box,” said Roberts. “Last year, I had a bunch of goals from there, but hadn’t gotten one yet this year. We haven’t had many opportunities that spot this year, so when we got it, I saw where the wall was and just placed it.”
Roberts’ goal proved key as SMU got a goal back with 88 seconds to play. Shelby Redman’s corner kick was headed in by Rachel Larson to make the score 2-1. The goal snapped Virginia’s shutout streak at 452 minutes.
Virginia outshot SMU 20-8 in the contest and had a 5-2 corner kick edge. Churchill O’Connell (McLean, Va) made three saves in the second half after Danielle DeLisle (Baltimore, Md.) played the first half. Lauren Bodden made five saves for SMU.
Miller and Roberts were named to the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational All-Tournament Team for their play, as was Olivia Brannon (Troy, Mich.), who was named the tournament’s Defensive MVP.
The Cavaliers return home next weekend as they host the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic. Play begins Friday as part of a soccer tripleheader at Klöckner Stadium. The tournament begins at 2 p.m. as James Madison plays Richmond. The Cavaliers follow at 5 p.m. as they meet George Mason. The final game of the day features the Virginia men’s soccer team as it opens ACC play against Duke at 7:30 p.m.
#7 Virginia 2, SMU 1
#7 Virginia (5-1) 0 2 – 2
SMU (2-3) 0 1 – 1
Scoring Summary
1. UVa. Caroline Miller 3 (Kate Norbo 2) 46′
2. UVa. Julia Roberts 1 (unassisted) 87′
3. SMU. Rachel Larson 1 (Shelby Redman 2) 89′
Shots: UVa 20, SMU 8
Corners: UVa 5, SMU 2
Saves: UVa 3 (Danielle DeLisle 0, Churchill O’Connell 3), SMU 6 (Lauren Bodden 5, Team 1)
Fouls: UVa 7, SMU 9