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Top-ranked Women's Soccer stifle Hoyas

Virginia overcomes defensive-minded Georgetown, earns 1-0 win Friday

The No. 1 Virginia women’s soccer team grinded out a 1-0 victory against a tough, defensive-minded Georgetown team in the second round of the NCAA tournament Friday at Klöckner Stadium. With the victory, the Cavaliers advanced to the Round of 16 for the 12th time in 14 years under coach Steve Swanson.

Virginia (22-1-0, 13-0-0 ACC) was coming off a demolition of 16th-seeded Saint Francis a week ago in which it outshot the Red Flash 37-3. Friday’s match was a far different story, however, as the Hoyas (16-3-2, 7-1-1 Big East) clogged the middle of the field in order to prevent the prolific Cavalier offense from creating chances. Georgetown successfully deployed this tactic for much of the first half, dropping 10 players deep in its own defensive third to hold Virginia to just seven shots in the period.

“Georgetown was a great opponent, and they played us really well,” junior midfielder Morgan Brian said. “It’s hard to break teams like that down.”

Georgetown was able to stifle the majority of opportunities that the Cavaliers created, resulting in the uncharacteristically low shot count for Virginia in the opening period. However, despite the impeccable defensive play by the Hoyas, Virginia simply outworked them to win virtually every loose ball and ensure that it remained on the attack. The Cavaliers’ superior athleticism allowed them to put suffocating and unrelenting pressure on the Hoya defense, making it clear that it was just a matter of time until a Virginia shot found the back of the net.

“They did a very good job of moving the ball, and when we did get it, they did a very good job of working hard to win it back immediately,” Georgetown coach Dave Nolan said. “They put pressure on us from the first minute until the final whistle. What they did to us tonight, we usually do to other teams. It wasn’t nice to be on the other end of it.”

The first sign of cracks in the Hoya defense came with a little under 15 minutes left to play in the first half. Freshman forward Alexis Shaffer broke open on the right side of the box and fired a shot that looked to be sailing wide of the far post, but it sharply curved in the air and forced Hoya sophomore goalkeeper Emma Newins to make a spectacular save.

Shaffer was not finished, however, as she once again found herself with the ball deep in Hoya territory in the 33rd minute. Her cross from the right side of the field found a waiting Brian just outside the six-yard box, and the junior put the ball away into the bottom right corner of the net for the game’s only goal.

“It’s very difficult to open teams up when they’re sitting back like that,” Swanson said. “They’re a good team with good athletes and they’re well organized. We had to be sharp to get our chances.”

After an anemic first-half offensive performance in which they had zero shots, the Hoyas were forced to open up their play after the break to search for the equalizer. That adjustment opened up more chances for Virginia offensively. Just nine minutes into the new period, the Cavaliers nearly doubled their lead when senior defender Molly Menchel missed the inside of the far post by inches. Six minutes later, junior forward Danielle Colaprico hit the crossbar with a blast from the center of the box.

Though the Cavalier offense dominated possession, the team’s defense excelled once more when tested. Led by senior Shasta Fisher and sophomore Emily Sonnett, Virginia allowed only a single shot to Georgetown en route to its 15th shutout of the season — this one against the third most prolific offensive in the country in terms of goals per game.

“Our defense played well today — it has the whole season,” Brian said. “We pride ourselves on team defense. We’re tight as a unit and it’s hard to get through us, and I think we did a good job of that today.”

Virginia will next face Wake Forest (12-6-2, 5-6-2 ACC) in the Round of 16 Sunday at 5 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers defeated the Demon Deacons 2-0 in an Oct. 13 regular season matchup.

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