Virginia Shuts Out Central Arkansas, 1-0

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (7-5-1) produced its sixth shutout of the 2020-21 season after a 1-0 victory over Central Arkansas (6-8-2) on Tuesday (March 23) at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers have yet to concede a goal in four home matches this spring.

Freshman Leo Afonso (Boynton Beach, Fla.) was credited with the game-winner on his header goal in the eighth minute. A free kick service from 35 yards out by Jeremy Verley (Kingston, Jamaica) found the head of a leaping Afonso on the back post. The goal was the first of Afonso’s collegiate career.

“Today was a good win for us against a very tough Central Arkansas team,” head coach George Gelnovatch. “We’ll take this win and turn the page quickly on it and get ready for Duke here on Sunday.”

Afonso became the 11^th different goal scorer for the Cavaliers this season and the seventh to register their first collegiate point this in 2020-21. The assist for Verley was his third in the last five games.

Central Arkansas attempted 12 of the game’s 20 shots including six in the first half but Virginia held 55 percent of the game’s possession. The Cavaliers also held a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.

Reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Week, Alex Rando (New York, N.Y.) eclipsed his career high again this spring by making six stops. He was credited with his fifth shutout of the season.

The Cavaliers will finish off their regular season with three-straight ACC matches beginning with the spring home finale on Sunday (March 28) against Duke followed by road clashes with Louisville (April 2) and Pitt (April 8). Start time for Sunday’s match against the Blue Devils set for 1 p.m. and the contest will air live on ACCNX.

Additional Notes

• Tuesday marked the first ever meeting between the two schools and the first game against a Sun Belt opponent since opening night of the 2016 season against Coastal Carolina.
• Virginia improved to 6-2 at Klöckner Stadium this season and 4-0 on its home pitch this spring.
• The Cavaliers have not conceded a goal at home in 274 minutes of action this spring.
• Graduate transfer Louis Evans (Canterbury, New Zealand) made his first appearance in a Virginia uniform, logging 45 second half minutes.
• Oliver Gerbig (Taipei, Taiwan), Irakoze Donasiyano (Roanoke, Va.), Kevin Ogudugu (Oslo, Norway) and Nick Berghold (Wingdale, N.Y) played all 90 minutes of the match.