No. 8 Virginia Shuts Out NC State On Senior Day
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 8 Virginia women’s soccer team (12-2-3, 5-2-2 ACC) used a pair of goals in each half, including two goals and an assist from Alexa Spaanstra, to pick up a 4-0 victory over NC State (7-7-4, 2-6-1 ACC) at Klöckner Stadium on Sunday (Oct. 23).
GOALS
3’ – Alexa Spaanstra (unassisted)
12’ – Haley Hopkins (Sarah Clark, Maggie Cagle)
46’ – Alexa Spaanstra (Maggie Cagle)
57’ – Lia Godfrey (Alexa Spaanstra)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cavaliers wasted no time getting on the board with a strike from Alexa Spaanstra in the third minute of play. The unassisted goal would be the first of two for the fifth-year player on the day. Haley Hopkins got in on the action in the 12th minute. At the top right corner of the box, Maggie Cagle laid of a ball to Sarah Clark who immediately sent in the cross to Hopkins for a header at the back post.
Virginia struck quickly in the second half with Spaanstra finding the net again in the opening minute of the period. Cagle delivered her second assist of the game as her centering pass to Spaanstra was struck up off the croassbar and down into the goal mouth for the 3-0 lead. The Cavaliers then capped the scoring in the 57th minute with a goal from Lia Godfrey. Spaanstra danced around defenders on the left side of the box before playing the ball back to Godfrey at the corner for the strike across the goal and in past the right post.
NOTES ON THE GAME
• Virginia is now 29-12-3 all-time against NC State and are 10-0-2 in the last 12 matches vs. the Wolfpack.
• Alexa Spaanstra set a new mark with 101 career starts and appearances for the Hoos – passing Laurel Ivory.
• Spaanstra now has 34 career goals and 34 career assists. Her 102 career points is tied for sixth in UVA history.
• Maggie Cagle delivered the second two-assist game of the year and has a team-leading nine assists this season.
• Michaela Moran turned in her first solo shutout of the year. She is 2-0-0 on the season and 6-2-0 in her career.
• Virginia honored seven seniors prior to kick: Sarah Clark, Claire Constant, Jansen Eichenlaub, Haley Hopkins, Rebecca Jarrett, Michaela Moran and Alexa Spaanstra.
FROM HEAD COACH STEVE SWANSON
“It was a good result and a good performance as well. I’m really happy with the way the team performed today, especially the seniors. We got good contributions today from all of our seniors. We’re incredibly proud of them. They’ve sacrificed so much for the program, so it was nice to see the fans come out and us get the result with a good performance as well.”
UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia will close the regular season on the road when the Cavaliers travel to face Miami on Thursday (Oct. 27). Kick is set for 6 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACCNX.