UVA Tops Vermont in NCAA 2nd Round in 2OT, 2-1

Nov. 20, 2016

Final Stats

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Pablo Aguilar (R-Jr., Guatemala City, Guatemala) drove through traffic and scored the dramatic golden goal in the 103rd minute to lift the Virginia men’s soccer team to a 2-1, come-from-behind win over Vermont on Sunday afternoon in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at KlÃÆ’¶ckner Stadium. The No. 12 seed in the tournament, Virginia (11-3-5) advanced to face reigning national champion Stanford, the No. 5 seed, next Sunday (Nov. 27) at 8 p.m. ET in Stanford, Calif.

Playing in its 36th straight NCAA tournament, UVA fell behind 1-0 in the 62nd minute but came back thanks to a 76th-minute goal from Paddy Foss (Sr., South Riding, Va.) and Aguilar’s heroics in double overtime. Vermont concluded its season with a 14-7-1 record.

“Any team this time of year, to win in that fashion puts wind in your sails,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “When you get that first NCAA tournament win under your belt, it just puts wind in your sails and that is what we got. Our perseverance and mental toughness, as well as the guys that came on, made a difference. It was a great win for us.”

In his 21st season at the helm of the Virginia program, Gelnovatch recorded his 295th career win, matching his predecessor, Bruce Arena, for the career wins record at UVA.

Virginia out-shot Vermont 13-7, including 12-4 in the second half and overtime periods. UVA goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell (Jr., Todd, N.C.) made three saves, while UVM keeper Aron Runarsson picked up a pair of saves.

The first half yielded just four shots between the two sides, but the teams traded scoring chances during an eventful second half. With UVA pushing forward early in the second half, Vermont caught UVA the other way in transition as the dangerous Wright sped down the left flank and into the box, where he sent a short feed across to find an open Jon Amar Barodal, who buried a low shot inside the far post. The 62nd-minute goal was Amar Barodal’s third score of the season, while Wright earned his 12th assist, which is tied for the national lead this year.

The momentum shifted in the 67th minute when Aguilar powered toward the top of the box and was aggressively taken down by Charlie DeFeo, who was shown a yellow card — his second of the match — and sent off, leaving the Catamounts to play with just 10 men the rest of the way.

Virginia took advantage of another Vermont foul in nearly the same spot just outside the box in the 76th minute. Foss took the free kick and sent the ball inside the near upper corner to level the score with his third goal of the season.

In the first overtime session, Vermont nearly came away with the golden goal on a low shot from outside the box from Bernard Yeboah. Caldwell was screened on the play and had to make a late dive to deflect the ball away.

Aguilar made a terrific individual effort to send UVA away with the win in the 103rd minute. After taking a feed about six yards outside the box, Aguilar pivoted and drove into the box through four Vermont defenders before deftly sending the ball across the box from 15 yards with his right field and slotting it just inside the right post for the golden goal. It was Aguilar’s team-leading seventh goal of the year; he has scored the game-winning goal in each of UVA’s last three victories.

Aguilar’s score was UVA’s first golden goal in the NCAA tournament since Brian Ownby’s overtime winner to give UVA a 2-1 win over Wake Forest in the semifinals of the 2009 College Cup. It was the Cavaliers’ eighth golden goal all-time in NCAA tournament play.