Cavaliers Rally to Earn a 4-2 Victory Over Virginia Tech

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Thanks to a gritty team performance, the Virginia men’s soccer team (3-2) scored four goals in the final 20 minutes of action to rally from a one-goal deficit and capture a 4-2 victory over Virginia Tech (0-4-1) on Friday night (Sept. 9) at Klöckner Stadium.

Goals (Assists)

22’ – Virginia Tech: Conor Pugh (Misei Yoshizawa)
70’ – Virginia: Andreas Ueland (Leo Afonso)
75’ – Virginia: Kome Ubogu (Asparuh Slavov, Triton Beauvois)
83’ – Virginia: Phil Horton (Penalty)
84’ – Virginia: Leo Afonso (Paul Wiese)
89′ –  Virginia Tech: Misei Yoshizawa (Unassisted)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Virginia jumped out to a hot start straight from the kickoff as the Cavaliers recorded a pair of shots in the opening minutes. Virginia kept possession of the ball applying pressure throughout the first quarter of an hour.

The opening goal was scored by the Hokies in the 21^st minute against the run of play. After winning a free kick ten yards outside the Virginia penalty area, Virginia Tech’s Misei Yoshizawa whipped a ball into Conor Pugh who headed the ball into the net giving his team a 1-0 lead they would take to halftime.

The second half saw more of the same from both teams as Virginia held almost all of the ball but struggled to find a way through.

Ten minutes past the hour mark, Leo Afonso dashed down the right sideline and whipped the ball into the penalty area where his fellow captain Andreas Ueland smashed it into the back of the net to level the score.

The Cavaliers poured on the pressure following the goal. Just five minutes after the team equalized, Asparuh Slavov was played into the Hokie penalty area by Triton Beauvois. The sophomore fired in a low cross in front of goal that was met by a diving Kome Ubogo who headed the ball home and put the Cavaliers on top with just 15 minutes remaining in the match.

The floodgates broke open in the 82^nd when Phil Horton was brought down inside the penalty area. After Virginia Tech’s Jack Dearie was sent off with a red card, Horton calmly slotted home the penalty kick. Leo Afonso would score again in the 84^th to put the finishing touch on the Cavalier victory.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• The Cavaliers now hold a 43-5-6 record against the Hokies all-time
• Under head coach George Gelnovatch, Virginia holds a 16-3-6 record over Virginia Tech
• Under head coach George Gelnovatch, Virginia is now 88-32-7 immediately following a loss
• Virginia now holds a 22-2-3 record against Virginia Tech at home
• The Cavaliers held the Hokies to one shot in the first half
• Paul Weise registered his first assist of the season, he led the team last season in assists with six
• After outshooting Virginia Tech 19-8 tonight, Virginia has outshot its opponents 78-37 this season
• Defender Andreas Ueland scored his seventh career goal
• Forward Leo Afonso scored his third goal and first assist of the season, he currently leads Virginia in goals with three
• Afonso joins Daniel Mangarov as the only Cavaliers to score and assist in a single game this season
• With a game-high seven shots, forward Leo Afonso leads the ACC in total shots with 24
• Forwards Philip Horton and Kome Ubogu scored their second goals of the season
• Defender Aidan O’Connor made his first start as a Cavalier
• Forward Triton Beauvois notched his first collegiate assist tonight
• Midfielder Asparuh Slavov earned his first assist of the season

FROM HEAD COACH GEORGE GELNOVATCH

“We wanted a response after the game against Maryland. We found ourselves in a similar situation at halftime, and having gone through what we have gone through, I think we were better prepared for it. We just felt like all we needed was a goal and if we scored a goal, we were going to win this game.”

THE SMITHFIELD COMMONWEALTH CLASH

The Smithfield Commonwealth Clash, originally called the Commonwealth Challenge (2005-2007), has been a part of the UVA-Virginia Tech rivalry since 2014. It is an all-sports, points-based program with the Commonwealth Clash trophy presented to the winning school each year for its dominance in head-to-head competitions.
With tonight’s win, Virginia claims the first point of the 2022-23 season giving Virginia a 1-0 advantage over Virginia Tech.

 Up Next:

The Cavaliers will return to Klöckner Stadium on Tuesday (Sept. 13) where they will take on La Salle. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.