Virginia Takes Down Virginia Tech 3-1 In Season Opener
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia women’s soccer team (1-0) opened the season with a victory on Saturday (Sept. 12), taking down Virginia Tech (0-1) by a score of 3-1 at Klöckner Stadium. The match was designated as a non-conference match for both teams in the 2020 season.
Virginia jumped out to the early lead thanks to a goal from sophomore Diana Ordoñez (Prosper, Texas) and added to the lead in the second half with goals from junior Alexa Spaanstra (Brighton, Mich.) and freshman Lia Godfrey (Fleming Island, Fla.). The goal for the Hokies came off a penalty kick from junior Emily Gray late in the game.
With the win, Virginia improved to 21-4-1 all-time against the Hokies.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been here playing and I think both teams deserve a lot of credit for getting to this point,” said Virginia head coach Steve Swanson. “I think there are a lot of people who didn’t think this would happen – even as late as a week or so ago. I think there is some satisfaction there.
“It’s always a physical battle with Virginia Tech and we expected the kind of game we got tonight. We had to be smart about the decisions we made moving the ball. I think both teams aren’t as fit as they would be at this time normally. We got some good performances and I think the two first years, Lia Godfrey and Samar Guidry, played well for their first game. But the best part is we played.”
The Hoos got on the board in the ninth minute when freshman Samar Guidry (Plano, Texas) connected with sophomore Diana Ordoñez (Prosper, Texas). Guidry’s initial shot near the top of the box was blocked, but the freshman collected the rebound and played the ball ahead to Ordoñez who was crashing toward the right corner of the six. Ordoñez took the shot and sent it in to the far corner for the score.
It was a half that featured most of the action on the home half of the field as Virginia held a 10-to-1 advantage in shots with four shots on goal from the Cavaliers.
Virginia’s second goal came off a corner kick taken by Godfrey in the 79th minute. Spaanstra battled for the near post position against the Virginia Tech keeper, holding her ground as she sent a header into the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.
A long ball sent forward down the near sideline from the Cavaliers’ third by Ashlynn Serepca (Cornelius, N.C.) opened the field up for Cam Lexow (Abington, Pa.) on a breakaway toward the Hokies’ goal. Lexow sent a ball across the top of the box to an unmarked Godfrey, who sprinted down the field to help her teammate. Godfrey sent the ball flying into the back of the net on the first touch to give the Cavaliers a 3-0 lead in the 83rd minute.
The Hokies got on the board in the 85th minute when a handball in the box was called against the Cavaliers, setting up a penalty kick for the visiting team. Gray lined up her shot and struck true to get Virginia Tech on the board.
Virginia will return to action with a pair of road matches next week, traveling to face Duke on Thursday (Sept. 17) before continuing the road swing at Clemson on Sunday (Sept. 20).
