Virginia Cruises to 2-0 Win Over American

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Lifted by goals from substitutes Andy Sullins and Kome Ubogu, Virginia (5-3-0) downed American (2-3-2) by a score of 2-0 on Tuesday night (Sept. 20) at Klöckner Stadium.

Goals (Assists)

50’ – Virginia: Andy Sullins (Unassisted)
83’ – Virginia: Kome Ubogu (Unassisted)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

After 10 minutes of back-and-forth action, Virginia grew into the game and dictated play as the Cavaliers created a pair of chances for Phil Horton early on. However, despite the Cavaliers managing seven shots compared to American’s one in the opening 45 minutes, Virginia was unable to unlock the Eagles’ defense in the first half as the teams went into the break scoreless.

With nearly 50 minutes gone, Virginia’s Axel Ahlander headed a ball destined for the low corner of goal but was saved by the opposing goalkeeper. On the ensuing corner kick, Paul Wiese played a threatening ball just outside the American six-yard box. The Eagles’ attempted clearance fell to the feet of second-half substitution, Sullins who did not miss his chance as he fired Virginia into the lead.

The Cavaliers continued to push on in the attacking end as the team searched for another. In the 83^rd minute of play, Horton made an excellent challenge on the American goalkeeper who left his penalty area to deal with the danger. As the ball tumbled away from the diving goalkeeper, Ubogu slotted it into the low corner of the net to seal the victory for Virginia.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Andy Sullins scored the first goal of his career for the Cavaliers
• Sullins becomes Virginia’s 11^th goal scorer this season
• Sullins is the seventh player to record his first Virginia goal this season
• Kome Ubogu netted his fifth goal of the season and now leads the team in scoring
• The opening goal from Sullins came just five minutes after he entered the match
• Under head coach George Gelnovatch, Virginia improves to 89-32-7 immediately following a loss in a single season
• Virginia improves to 18-4 all-time against American
• With 15 shots tonight, Virginia has recorded double-digit shot totals in seven out of its eight matches this season
• The Cavaliers outshot American by a margin of 15-8 tonight and have outshot their opponents by a margin of 137-61 this season
• Holden Brown kept his fourth clean sheet of the season
• The Cavaliers kept possession for 59 percent of the match
• Michael Tsicoulias made his first appearance of the season
• Virginia ranks second in goals this season with 20 trailing only No. 1 Wake Forest with 22

FROM HEAD COACH GEORGE GELNOVATCH

“They’re not an easy team to play against. They were pretty organized offensively, and difficult to break down. I feel like we wore them down and I thought the second half was a good professional performance from our guys…I feel like the team’s confidence levels are high, we are scoring goals and creating good chances so there is real belief in ourselves as we prepare to go on the road.”

Up Next:

Virginia will hit the road for its first true road games this season with difficult tests against two top-10 opponents. First, the Cavaliers travel to New York to take on No. 3 Syracuse on Saturday (Sept. 24). The following Friday (Sept. 30) Virginia makes the trip to No. 8 Pittsburgh. Both games will kick off at 7 p.m. and air on ACCNX.