No. 13 UVA To Face Virginia Tech In Smithfield Commonwealth Clash
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 13 Virginia women’s soccer team (10-2-2, 3-2-1 ACC) heads back out on the road to take on Virginia Tech (9-4-1, 3-3-0 ACC) in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash on Thursday (Oct. 13). Kick is set for 8 p.m. at Thompson Field.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Thursday night’s contest against Virginia Tech will be broadcast on ACC Network and a stream will be available through the ESPN app and at WatchESPN.com for customers who have the ACC Network as part of their television subscription. Live stats are also available and links to both the live stream and broadcast are available at VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get updates by following the program’s official Twitter account (@UVAWomenSoccer).
QUICK KICKS
• Virginia moved to No. 13 in the coaches poll after a loss to No. 3 FSU and a draw with Syracuse last week. The Cavaliers had sat at the No. 2 spot in the polls the previous three weeks.
• Maggie Cagle continues to come deliver for the Hoos in her freshman campaign after tallying a goal and an assist in the last outing against Syracuse. She leads the ACC in assists (7).
• Cagle is tied for third nationally in game-winning assists as one of only five players to have at least five game-winning assists this season. She is 22nd nationally in assist per game and 13th in assists.
• Jill Flammia – the No. 26 recruit – returned to the pitch last week and got back in the action as she and Cagle connected for the second time this season on a goal against Syracuse.
• Haley Hopkins is among the NCAA leaders in game-winning goals (34th – 3), total goals (33rd – 8) and points (43rd – 18). She is third in the ACC in goals, fourth in points fifth in game winning goals.
• Cayla White continues to produce for the Cavaliers in goal, ranking second in the ACC in save percentage and shutouts and ranks in the top 50 nationally in both categories.
• As a team, the Cavaliers enter the matchup ranked in the top 15 nationally in goals (10th – 35) and points (14th – 98) and 26th nationally in total assists (28). UVA is top six in the ACC in all three.
• Virginia is also 14th nationally in scoring offense with 2.50 goals per game and is fourth in the ACC.
• The UVA keepers lead the ACC in goal against average, shutout percentage and save percentage.
• Alexa Spaanstra continues to climb the UVA record books with 98 career starts which is second most at UVA. She’s closing in on matching 100 starts made by Laurel Ivory.
• On her heels are Hopkins with 95 starts and 91 games played and Claire Constant with 94 career appearances.
THE SERIES WITH VIRGINIA TECH
• Virginia and Virginia Tech have met on the pitch 27 times with the Hoos leading the series 22-4-1
• The Cavaliers won both meetings – a pair of non-conference matchups – in the 2020 COVID season, the last time the teams met.
• Virginia has won three straight in the series since a 1-0 loss at Virginia Tech in the 2018 season – one of only four for the Hoos.
• Two of the four losses have come on the road for Virginia while a third came in the ACC Tournament in the 2013 season.
ABOUT THE 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. Friday’s match will be the second contest of the 2022 season between Virginia and Virginia Tech. Virginia currently leads the Commonwealth Clash 1.0 to 0.