CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 11 Virginia women’s soccer team (1-0-0) rode a trio of first-half goals to victory on Wednesday (Aug. 12) as the Cavaliers downed Northwestern (0-1-0) by a score of 3-1 at Klöckner Stadium.
GOALS
7’ – UVA: Addison Halpern (Jordyn Hardeman, Gio Canali)
21’ – UVA: Gio Canali (unassisted)
41’ – UVA: Aniyah Collier (Allie Ross)
90’ – NW: Holland Carey (Gabby Anderson)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia struck in the seventh minute off a reset following a corner. The Cavaliers took the clearance and played the ball out wide to Jordyn Hardeman. She sent the ball into the box from 25 yards out on the right. The service hit near the penalty mark where it was flicked on to Addison Halpern by Gio Canali. Halpern’s finish put the Hoos on top 1-0.
7' | UVA 1, NW 0
— Virginia Women's Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) August 12, 2026
Addison Halpern finds the net for the Hoos!
Jordyn Hardeman with the service and Gio Canali with the flick for the Halpern finish.#GoHoos | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/Xd4YrYmSBT
Canali doubled the lead in the 21st minute with a little magic, weaving through multiple defenders before slotting a left-footed shot across face of goal as she entered the six from the right side.
21' | UVA 2, NW 0
— Virginia Women's Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) August 12, 2026
A little magic from Gio! 💃
The Hoos double the lead!#GoHoos | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/wI8lxDiujx
The Hoos capped the half with a goal from Aniyah Coller in the 41st minute. Allie Ross served a ball in from distance that Collier headed into the upper right corner as she approached the six to give UVA the 3-0 lead at the half.
41' | UVA 3, NW 0
— Virginia Women's Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) August 13, 2026
Aniyah Collier with the first colleigate goal!#GoHoos | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/fizJXh0B2T
Northwestern got on the board in the final minute following a free kick out wide on the right. Gabby Anderson served the ball into the six where Holland Carey slotted in past the near post with a header.
NOTING THE HOOS
- Gio Canali scored her first goal as a Cavalier and added an assist for a team-leading three points.
- Jordyn Hardeman tallied her first collegiate assist with her connection on the game-winning goal.
- Aniyah Collier scored her first collegiate goal with her strike in the 41st minute.
- With the win Virginia improved to 3-0 against Northwestern in the all-time series.
FROM HEAD COACH STEVE SWANSON
“There were a lot of good things. Obviously, it was a good result for us. I thought the performance, especially in the first half in a lot of ways, was excellent. We had the tempo of the match. We moved the ball well and scored three very nice goals. Defensively, there were little places we got disorganized, but for the most part we limited their chances. I have a lot of respect for Northwestern. They have a good group coming back from a good season last year and played here two years ago, so they weren’t going to be intimidated on our field. We knew it would be a tough opener, but our players met the moment well.”
UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia hosts Liberty on Sunday afternoon, taking on the Flames at 5 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium.