No. 13 UVA Draws WIth Virginia Tech In Commonwealth Clash
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The two teams combined for five goals in the second half as No. 13 Virginia (10-2-3, 3-2-2 ACC) played Virginia Tech (9-4-2, 3-3-1 ACC) to a 3-3 draw on Thursday night (Oct. 13) in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash.
GOALS
31’ – Taylor Price (Emmalee McCarter)
50’ – Jill Flammia (Alexa Spaanstra)
50’ – Haley Hopkins (unassisted)
59’ – Haley Hopkins (Alexis Theoret)
80’ – Taylor Bryan (Tori Powell, Emma Pelkowski)
90’ – Taylor Bryan (Aino Vuorinen, Tori Powell)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Virginia Tech scored the opening goal off a corner kick in the 31st minute to take a 1-0 lead into the half, the Cavaliers came out invigorated in the second half to score three straight goals and take the lead on the Hokies.
It started with a pair of goals in the 50th minute from Jill Flammia and Haley Hopkins. Flammia made a run down the center of the field and received the pass from Alexa Spaanstra to start the rally for the Hoos. The freshman received the ball and cut to her left around a sliding keeper before slotting the ball back in past the far post. Just 13 seconds later, Hopkins scored as she intercepted a pass back toward the keeper and finished to give Virginia the lead.
Hopkins scored for a second time in the 59th minute with a header off a free kick from Alexis Theoret to extend the Virginia lead.
Virginia Tech then put together an answering rally, pulling within one with a score in the 80th minute before squaring things up with a 90th-minute goal. Taylor Bryan scored both goals for the Hokies.
NOTES ON THE GAME
• UVA is now 22-4-2 against the Hokies and the draw is the first in the series since the 2008 ACC Tournament.
• The goals from Flammia and Hopkins were 13 seconds apart – the fastest two goals in UVA program history.
• The two goals bested the record of 18 seconds set against Virginia Tech in the 1995 season (Weigand/Cowart)
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 draw, the teams split the point and Virginia leads in the overall score 1.5 – 0.5 over Virginia Tech.
UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia will return home for two games next week beginning with a contest against Wake Forest at 7 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 20).