Annor Header Powers Virginia Past ETSU

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – On the back of Stephen Annor’s fifth goal of the season, the Virginia men’s soccer team (5-3-1, 1-2 ACC) broke down a well-disciplined ETSU side (3-5-1, 0-0-0 SoCon) to earn a hard-fought 1-0 victory on Tuesday night (Sept. 26) at Klöckner Stadium.

Goals (Assists):
66’ Virginia — Annor (Mangarov)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Virginia opened the game on the front foot and threatened to score with less than five minutes played in the match. Elias Norris played a ball back to Albin Gashi at the top of the area whose left-footed attempt sailed just high of the crossbar.
• In the ninth minute the Cavaliers probed down the left side once again as Gashi slid a pass into Mangarov who fired an attempt across his body but was denied by the diving ETSU goalkeeper.
• The remainder of the half was commanded by Virginia as the Cavaliers methodically looked to break down a resolute Buccaneers defense. The teams went into the halftime break locked in a scoreless tie.
• With just over an hour played, Virginia broke through. Daniel Mangarov drove down the left flank stopping short of the byline. The midfielder did well in a tight area to whip a cross in close to the six-yard box where Stephen Annor was there to meet it with his head and guide his shot inside the far post.
• The Cavaliers never looked in jeopardy for the remainder of the match as they possessed the ball for the majority of the final 30 minutes and when defending, did not concede a dangerous chance to ETSU.
• Virginia came inches away from doubling its advantage in the closing minutes of the game as Elias Norris turned the Buccaneers over in midfield and took his chance down the left side. The low attempt bounced off the inside of the far post where an ETSU was there to clear his lines.

66′ ANNOR BREAKS THROUGH 💥

UVA 1, ETSU 0#GoHoos⚔️ pic.twitter.com/HOvWIpwJN8

— Virginia Men’s Soccer (@UVAMenSoccer) September 27, 2023

FROM HEAD COACH GEORGE GELNOVATCH:
“That’s a good win. That team is big, strong, organized and athletic and they don’t give you much. We just had to wear them down with consistent passing and movement. With a team like that and a one-goal lead they start to take some chances and you have to defend a bit more. So, the last ten minutes or so was a good exercise for us in defending a lead.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Stephen Annor recorded his fifth goal of the season and his third headed goal of the campaign
• Annor has scored in three of his last four matches
• Danny Mangarov recorded his second assist of the season
• Virginia made three changes to the starting lineup from its previous outing at Notre Dame
• Joey Batrouni made his second start for Virginia while Elias Norris made his third start of the season
• Batrouni made two saves and recorded his first clean sheet as a Cavalier
• Virginia outshot the Buccaneers by a margin of 10-6. Virginia placed five on goal compared to ETSU’s two
• The Cavaliers controlled 63 percent of possession
• Virginia used a season-low five substitutes in the match
• In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, Virginia improves to 1-0 against the Buccaneers
• The Cavaliers improve to a record of 5-1 at Klöckner stadium this season

Up Next:

The Cavaliers return to Klöckner Stadium on Friday (Sept. 29) when Virginia hosts No. 8 Louisville in an ACC tilt on its home field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.