The No. 7 Virginia men's soccer team continued its winning ways last night with a decisive 3-0 victory against American. The win extended the squad's unbeaten streak to seven games and improved its non-conference record to 8-0-1.
The first half could be dubbed the Jonathan Villanueva Show, as the senior midfielder put on an inspiring offensive performance for the Cavaliers (11-3-2). Villanueva fired six of the team's 10 shots, five of which were on goal and one of which found the back of the net. With four-and-a-half minutes remaining in the half, Villanueva made the most of an American foul at the top of the circle. Sophomore midfielder Tony Tchani faked the free kick, allowing his senior teammate to curl a beautiful low blast into the corner of the net. It was Villanueva's first goal of the season and the ninth of his career.
"It feels great," Villanueva said. "The weight that's off my shoulders is unexplainable."
Freshman forward Will Bates added to the Cavalier lead in the 53rd minute. Senior midfielder Jordan Evans - playing in a rare starting role for Virginia - sent a cross into the middle of the box, where Bates out-jumped a nearby defender and headed the ball over the keeper and into the net. It was Evans' first assist of his career and Bates' team-leading seventh goal of the season.
American (9-5-2) almost responded with a goal of its own in the 57th minute when junior midfielder Daniel Shannon was let loose on a breakaway. Virginia junior goalkeeper Diego Restrepo rushed off his line and cut off Shannon's angle at the goal, though, resulting in a shot that went wide left.
Restrepo finished the night with three saves to secure his fourth straight shutout and eighth scoreless match of the year. The impressive defensive display was nothing unusual for a team that entered last night's match carrying a 0.43 goals-against average, the fourth best mark in the country.
"We've been grinding it out," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "In order for us to get results, we've had to make sure the other team doesn't score. We just haven't scored a lot of goals [this season]. But as we get into a rhythm and start scoring some goals like we did tonight, we still have to remember who we are. We still have to be grinders, because there are still gonna be close games in the ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament, where we'll have to grind it out."
Sophomore defender Greg Monaco was inches away from entering the scoring column in the 59th minute after his header off a corner kick hit the bottom of the crossbar and came straight down. A scramble resulted in the box for the loose ball, and Bates' ensuing header was saved by the keeper. Virginia players argued that Monaco's shot crossed the goal line, but the referee dismissed their claims.
The Cavaliers managed to strike again in the 65th minute, however, when - this time - they made the most of another loose ball in the box. Sophomore defender Hunter Jumper created the scoring chance with a cross from the right wing that was headed down by junior forward Chase Neinken. Tchani ran down the free ball and fired a shot between two defenders toward the far post for his squad's third and final goal of the night. It marked Tchani's fifth goal of the season, good enough for second most on the team.
In one of their most complete matches of the season, the Cavaliers managed to take 18 shots, compared to eight by the Eagles, and held a 9-3 corner kick advantage.
"Towards the end of the season, we're really starting to come together," Villanueva said. "Throughout the season, we've been trying to figure out personnel, who fits where, what people's role should be. Now I think we're starting to find the right formula."
The win marked Virginia's ninth straight victory against American and extended its all-time series lead to 15-3. The Cavaliers return to Kl
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