The No. 12 Virginia men’s soccer team defeated Pacific 2-0 Friday night in front of a raucous crowd at Klöckner Stadium. The win provides plenty of motivation for a Virginia team looking to improve from their NCAA third round finish the previous year.
The Cavaliers (1-0, 0-0 ACC) were led by a strong effort from junior forward Irakoze Donasiyano who scored a goal in the 44th minute to put the Cavaliers up 1-0 against the Tigers (0-1, 0-0 WCC). This marked Donasiyano’s second career goal for the Cavaliers, scoring on a half volley from just outside the six-yard box.
Donasiyano followed up his first score with another goal in the 48th minute, already equaling his goal total from the 2018 season and providing hope for a big year from the Roanoke native.
Junior goalkeeper Colin Shutler continued his outstanding form from last season, recording four saves on the night. Shutler missed the Cavaliers’ final two matches of the 2018 season due to injury, but has shown that he is fully recovered for his junior season.
Additionally, the Cavaliers defense — including senior defensive midfielder Robin Afamefuna and Norwegian freshman defender Andreas Ueland — played a critical role in quelling a strong Pacific attack led by senior forward Jonathan Jimenez, who scored eight goals for the Tigers in 2018. Jimenez was held scoreless and tallied just three shots total against the Cavaliers.
Virginia now heads to Washington, D.C., Monday to face the defending national champions No. 1 Maryland (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at who the Cavaliers drew 0-0 at the start of 2018. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Audi Field.
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