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Women's Soccer continues perfect run

Top-ranked Cavaliers beat Clemson 3-0 to improve to 12-0 with marquee matchup looming

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The top-ranked Virginia women’s soccer team continued its perfect season Sunday, blanking Clemson 3-0 for its seventh shutout of the season to improve to 6-0 in ACC play for the first time in school history.

After surrendering a goal in three straight games during their road trip two weeks ago, the Cavaliers (12-0-0, 6-0-0) have settled back into dominating opponents at Klöckner Stadium. Against Clemson (6-4-3, 3-3-1 ACC), the Cavaliers struck early when junior midfielder Morgan Brian headed home her eighth goal of the season in the third minute off a free kick from junior forward Danielle Colaprico.

“We had practiced those all week in practice and I knew the back post would be open,” Brian said. “Danielle played me a great ball and I just put the biggest surface of my head on it and it went in.”

The early goal seemed to indicate that Virginia would turn the game into a lopsided affair quickly, but the Tigers settled in on defense and did not allow another goal in the first half. The Cavaliers had several opportunities to increase their lead, but were unable to convert.

“I thought we did a good job in the first half of doing what we wanted to do, except we didn’t take our chances very well,” coach Steve Swanson said. “We had some good opportunities to put some distance between us at halftime and we didn’t do it, so that was a little bit disappointing.”

Virginia was able to improve its efficiency after the intermission, and quickly began asserting its dominance over the Tigers early in the second half. The Cavaliers controlled possession and the Tigers rarely got a touch, aside from simply attempting to clear the ball from their own defensive area.

Unlike in the majority of the first half, the Cavaliers did not squander many opportunities in the second period. In the 52nd minute, the Tigers failed to clear the ball out of the box and it landed right in front of a waiting Colaprico, who easily beat the keeper for her fourth tally of the season.

Just six minutes later, sophomore forward Makenzy Doniak stretched the Cavalier lead to three. Senior defender Molly Menchel’s precise long distance pass sent Doniak past the Tiger defense and into the box, allowing the sophomore to record her team-leading 10th goal of the year.

Perhaps the most impressive part of of Virginia’s win Sunday was the team’s ability to maintain a significant edge even after most of the starters were replaced by substitutes. The Cavaliers used nine substitutions against Clemson — including four freshmen — and did not allow a single shot on goal in the contest. Overall, Virginia allowed just four shots and gave up only one corner kick to the Tigers.

“Our depth has been good all year and we made a conscious effort in this one to use it,” Swanson said. “Our level of play doesn’t drop when we use it, and that’s big for us.”

The team’s depth shined on the offensive side of the ball as Virginia racked up 22 shots — 10 of which were on goal — and earned six corners. In fact, the Cavaliers had just two fewer shots in the second half than they did in the first even with their usual goal-scorers on the sideline.

Virginia will look to continue its season-long dominance when third-ranked Notre Dame comes to Klöckner for the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Fighting Irish will be looking to bounce back from a shocking loss to Miami Sunday. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, will aim to continue their incredible success in Charlottesville, where they are averaging more than three and a half goals per game.

“Hopefully we’ll get another good crowd for Thursday,” Swanson said. “That’s been a big factor in our success for sure.”

The match against Notre Dame begins at 7 p.m. Thursday on free hot dog and soda night at Klöckner Stadium.

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