Cavaliers Roll Past James Madison at Home

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Powered by an electrifying offensive performance, Virginia (2-1-0) defeated James Madison (1-2-0) by a score of 3-0 to secure the team’s second consecutive victory Thursday night (Sept. 1) at Klöckner Stadium.

Goals (Assists)

17’ – Virginia: Leo Afonso (Unassisted)
65’ – Virginia: Albin Gashi (Moritz Kappelsberger)
77’ – Virginia: Phil Horton (Unassisted)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Virginia began knocking on the door from the opening kick. In the early goings, it was freshman Reese Miller who posed the biggest threat to the Dukes’ defense as he created a pair of quality chances down the left wing and narrowly missed getting on the end of a threatening ball that drifted across the six-yard box.

In the 17^th minute, it was a solo effort from captain Leo Afonso which broke the doors open for the Hoos. After winning a challenge in the midfield, the forward took the chance himself from 18 yards out and laced the ball just underneath the crossbar to blast Virginia in front. Virginia would carry that 1-0 lead into half time.

At the start of the second half, James Madison registered its best chance of the match just three minutes into the restart as Josiah Blanton rifled a shot just wide of the right post.

Five minutes past the hour mark, a Virginia cross from Daniel Mangarov was dealt with and cleared by the James Madison defense. However, the ball fell to Virginia’s Moritz Kappelsberger who played it to freshman Albin Gashi. With two touches on the ball, Gashi fired a shot from well outside the penalty area to score the first of his collegiate career.

With just over 10 minutes to play in the match, Phil Horton received a ball in the midfield and took on three JMU defenders. With an excellent piece of skill, Horton found himself in on goal and calmly slotted home his first goal of the season.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Virginia kept its second consecutive clean sheet
• Leo Afonso scored his second goal in as many games
• Horton’s goal is his first since the 2020 season when he found the back of the net against Louisville (10/09/20)
• Afonso tallied seven shots in the match, one shy of his career-high
• Virginia outshot James Madison by a margin of 18-6
• In all three of Virginia’s matches this season, the Cavaliers have not allowed a single shot in the first half
• Virginia took five corner kicks and did not concede one to JMU
• Virginia improves to a record of 21-5-2 all-time against the dukes
• Virginia remains undefeated at Klöckner Stadium against JMU with an 8-0-1 when the teams meet at the facility

FROM HEAD COACH GEORGE GELNOVATCH

“I think that was the most complete game we have played this season. We have continued to be pretty good defensively in terms of giving up shots and shots on goal, and we are dangerous. We are dangerous and scoring goals, so it was a good day for us. To be honest with you, the clean sheet is a close second to winning games because it starts there.”

Up Next:

The Cavaliers will travel to Washington, D.C. to take on No. 9 Maryland in the Battle for the DMV on Monday (Sept. 5). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Audi Field.