Cagle's Late Goal Lifts No. 4 Virginia Past VCU

RICHMOND, Va. – Maggie Cagle came through again for the Cavaliers as the junior forward’s goal in the 77th minute lifted No. 4 Virginia (6-0-0) to a 1-0 victory over VCU (0-5-0) at Sports Backers Stadium on Thursday (Sept. 5).

GOALS
77’ – UVA: Maggie Cagle (unassisted)

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a stalemate through the first 45 minutes that saw each team record a single shot, Virginia turned up the pressure in the second half. The barrage paid off in the 77th minute on a goal from Maggie Cagle. VCU turned away a chance on a free kick but Cagle regained the clearance 24 yards out and immediately fired off her shot from the right side past the penalty arc. The ball hit the crossbar then ricocheted down and in for the score.

NOTES ON THE GAME

• With the victory, Virginia is now 7-0-2 against VCU and the Hoos are 2-0-1 in games played in Richmond.
• Maggie Cagle’s goal was her fifth of the season and 17th of her career.
• Cagle’s game-winning goal was her third this season and eighth of her career. She has hit the game-winning goal in consecutive games for Virginia.
• Victoria Safradin posted her fourth shutout of the season with the clean sheet against the Rams and the Hoos have posted three straight shutouts.

FROM HEAD COACH STEVE SWANSON
“We were much better in the second half. I didn’t think we moved the ball fast enough for the way they were defending with a lot of people behind the ball (in the first half). I think the shots were one-to-one in the first half and 10-to-2 for us in the second half. It was good to see us respond. We found some space behind them in the second half and did a good job to get the clean sheet. It’s not an easy place to play and they were very good, organized and hard to break down tonight. Finding a way to win is a good sign for us. We have to get ready for Howard on Sunday and this game helped us in a lot of ways.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia returns home to close out non-conference play with Howard on Sunday (Sept. 8). Kick is set for 2 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium and it will be the team’s Mental Health Awareness game.