The No. 8 Virginia women's soccer team clinched a winning record in ACC play yesterday afternoon with a 3-0 victory against Clemson.
The win gives the Cavaliers (11-3-2, 5-2-1 ACC) their third straight victory as they look to finish the regular season on a high note. Meanwhile, the Tigers (5-10-0, 0-8-0 ACC) sit at the bottom of the ACC standings.
Clemson stifled the high-scoring Virginia offense until freshman midfielder Morgan Brian put a goal through Clemson sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Arnold's legs during the 37th minute. Senior defender Amanda Fancher ignited the play with a long run down the right side of the field. She then fed the ball to freshman forward Danielle Colaprico on the top of the box, who in turn gave Brian the assist.
"It was a good ball by Danielle coming across," Brian said. "I just got myself forward and hit it as hard as I could because there was a girl coming behind me."
The score comes just a game after Brian scored her first career golden goal against N.C. State. Although she has taken a team-high 65 shots, the goal is only Brian's fifth of the season.\n"I'm trying to put myself in better position instead of shooting from the outside so much," Brian said. "But my teammates are playing me good balls, so that makes it easier to finish."
Virginia's second tally came in the 57th minute from sophomore forward Gloria Douglas, who hammered home her fifth goal of the season after a give-and-go with senior forward Lauren Alwine.
Alwine, who holds the Virginia career assist record, picked up her seventh on the season yesterday, which leads the team.
The final goal of the game came off of a Virginia set piece, an area in which the Cavaliers have been trying to improve all season. Freshman defender Olivia Brannon was the beneficiary of her own initial misfortune, as she scored on a rebound after her goal-bound header bounced off of a Clemson defender.
"I love going forward and corners are my big opportunity to make something happen," Brannon said. "I was really unlucky today but it still feels good to get my head on the ball."
The lopsided win allowed Virginia a rare opportunity to play some of its bench players during conference matchups. Nineteen Cavaliers saw action yesterday, including seven freshmen.
"We were a little bit fatigued in some ways but I'm pleased with the result," coach Steve Swanson said. "At times we moved the ball extremely well. It was nice to get some players in the game and overall our depth played well too."
The win sends Virginia into its marquee matchup Thursday against in-state rival Virginia Tech with momentum. That game will be nationally televised by Fox Soccer Channel and some Virginia women's soccer legends, including Lori Lindsey and Becky Sauerbrunn, will attend the game.
"I'm not really familiar with the rivalry but it won't change anything; I'll still come out hyped," Brannon said. "It's nationally televised too. I can't wait."
Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Klockner Stadium.
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