Virginia opened the regular season on a high note this weekend, coming out with two wins against quality opponents. The Cavaliers defeated UAB 2-1 Friday night, then dismantled St. Johns 5-0 Sunday.
Although Virginia controlled much of the play of both matches - taking four time as many shots as UAB to go 20-5 - the Cavaliers struggled to score in its first game against the Blazers. The game was knotted at halftime before UAB took the initial lead on a long, curling turn-around shot from junior forward Babayele Sodade during the 58th minute.
"One out of a hundred times it goes in; it was a great finish," senior goalkeeper Diego Restrepo said. "I give him credit."
The Cavaliers kept on the pressure, tying the game during the 61st minute. Sophomore defender Sean Murnane earned a penalty after he was taken down on a surging run into the box. Sophomore defender Sean Hiller converted that penalty kick for the equalizer, then moved on to provide the game-winning assist, which sophomore forward Will Bates received and redirected to the bottom-right corner, putting Virginia ahead in the 74th minute.
As hard-fought as this victory was, by Sunday the Cavaliers hardly struggled to find a finishing touch, converting five of their 14 shots.
"When do you score five goals in 13 shots?" coach George Gelnovatch said. "So it was a little bit of a weird game like that."
Freshman forward Brian "Cobi" Span opened scoring during the 12th minute with a quick left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that found the top-right corner.
"I caught everybody off-guard," Span said in regards to the early advantage he gave the Cavaliers.
By the 24th minute, the Cavaliers had taken a 3-0 lead, thanks to additional goals from Bates and redshirt junior midfielder Jimmy Simpson.
"We executed really, really well on those first two chances, and when we got the third, it broke them," Gelnovatch said of the opening match.
Span would have a hand in both of Virginia's second-half goals, assisting Murane and rounding out the score sheet in the 73rd minute with his second goal of the afternoon.
"Before the game, I said to him, 'Today's the day,'" Gelnovatch said. "It's going to be good for him to get a couple in the back of the net and just relax a little bit."
With the victories, Virginia extended its unbeaten streak to 18 matches - dating back to October 2009 - and record of home victories to 12.
Up next, the Cavaliers prepare to face the road and open ACC play at Duke this Saturday, after which they will return to Kl
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