Virginia Captures Three Points on Verley’s Golden Goal

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (5-4-1, 1-0 ACC) opened up its spring ACC slate with a 1-0, golden goal victory over Notre Dame (6-5, 0-1 ACC) at Klöckner Stadium on Sunday (March 7). Sophomore Jeremy Verley (Kingston, Jamaica) scored on a free kick in the 95^th minute, his first collegiate goal.

Following a yellow card by Notre Dame’s Michael Pellegrino, Virginia was awarded a free kick near midfield. Verley’s service landed in the box, took a high hop and found the back left corner of the goal. Verley is the 10^th different Cavalier to score this season and has three points in the last two games.

The Cavalier defense was stifling and did not allow a single shot on goal in the match. All four of the Notre Dame shot attempts were off target, two in each half.

“For both teams that game was really important and a really important three points (for us),” head coach George Gelnovatch said. “It was well deserved and I do think we deserved to win the game. I don’t know the last time that we played a Notre Dame team that didn’t register a shot on goal so there’s a lot to be said for not just the guys in the back but the whole team. It was a great team performance, and a lot of good individual performances by some young guys.”

The overtime match is the fifth in 10 games in the 2020-21 season after the Cavaliers started the fall with four consecutive extra time matches for the first time in program history. Virginia improved to 2-2-1 overtime games this season.

Verley’s goal was the only shot attempt by either team in the extra session and Virginia held an 8-4 advantage in shots in the match with four of them landing on target.

Virginia will hit the road next Saturday (March 13) for an ACC tilt at North Carolina. The match will air live on ACCNX and scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.

Additional Notes

• The Cavaliers have produced back-to-back shutouts for the first time in 2020-21 and up their season total to three.
• Virginia improved to 9-5-4 all-time against Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish are winless in seven all-time matches (0-5-2) at Klöckner Stadium.
• Sunday marked the 200^th ACC victory for Virginia. The Cavaliers are the first program to reach the 200-win plateau and are 200-142-53 all-time in league games.