Brunner's Brace Helps No. 4 UVA Down Loyola Maryland
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The offense was on display for the Cavaliers on Sunday night (Aug. 21) as No. 4 Virginia (2-0-0) scored six goals – featuring a brace from Sarah Brunner and two assists from Maggie Cagle – on the way to a 6-0 victory over Loyola Maryland (0-2-0) at Klöckner Stadium.
In all, five different players scored for the Cavaliers on the night as Virginia posted its first shutout of the season.
GOALS
6’ – UVA: Sarah Brunner (Maggie Cagle, Haley Hopkins)
14’ – UVA: Alexa Spaanstra (Lia Godfrey)
25’ – UVA: Rebecca Jarrett (unassisted)
37’ – UVA: Jill Flammia (Maggie Cagle)
54’ – UVA: Sarah Brunner (Lia Godfrey)
73’ – UVA: Emma Dawson (unassisted)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The scoring started early with Sarah Brunner’s goal in the sixth minute. Maggie Cagle got the ball out wide on the right side and cut in toward the box on the end line to send a cross to Haley Hopkins inside the six. Hopkin’s header was deflected by the keeper, but a crashing Brunner collected it and put it in the net for the score.
Eight minutes later, the Cavaliers struck again with a strike from range by Alexa Spaanstra. Again Lia Godfrey started the play with a ball slipped through the defense ahead to Spaanstra in stride who struck from 23 yards out on the empty net as the keeper came out to challenge.
Virginia would strike to more times in the half with Rebecca Jarrett notching an unassisted goal in the 25th minute before freshmen connected in the 37th minute when Cagle played a ball ahead to Jill Flammia in the box who finished with a ball to the back post.
The Cavaliers added two more goals in the second half when Godfrey found Brunner for the brace in the 54th minute and capped the scoring with an Emma Dawson goal in the 73rd minute.
NOTES ON THE GAME
• Virginia improved to 4-0-0 all-time against the Greyhounds of Loyola Maryland with all four games at home.
• Sarah Brunner turned in her first multiple-goal game of her career with the brace – scoring to open each half.
• Jill Flammia scored her first collegiate goal with her score to close the first half and give UVA the 4-0 lead.
• Maggie Cagle notched an assist for the second straight game with her connections to Brunner and Flammia for the score.
• Goalkeeper Michaela Moran saw her first action of the season as she and Cayla White combined for the shutout.
• Emma Dawson’s goal to finish the night’s scoring was her first of the season and third of her career.
• Alexa Spaanstra and Rebecca Jarrett have each scored in both games this season for the Cavaliers.
FROM HEAD COACH STEVE SWANSON
“It was a different game for sure in that we had good quality around the attacking third. We scored some really good goals in a lot of different ways. We had good flank play, a good transition goal and we had some good build up. There are lots of things we improved on from the last game. We’ve gotten better each time we’ve played and that’s a good sign. We’re going to have to continue to do that. It’s still early, but there was progress made today from a process and result standpoint. It was good to see us finish goals and play the way we did tonight.”
UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia will head out on the road for a non-conference matchup at No. 19 Georgetown on Thursday (Aug. 25). Kick against the Hoyas is set for 4 p.m. at Shaw Field.