Do first-round upsets scare you more than ghosts and ghouls? If so, this list will keep you up at night, cowering under the covers. In addition to stunning successes, the Cavaliers have had some terrifying times over the years. Here are 13 of the spookiest moments in Virginia sports history.
13. Virginian horror story — 52-10 loss, Football, 2016
The Hokies dominated the Cavaliers in all facets of the game, a lopsided loss to finish off a 2-10 season. The 42-point loss was the second-worst in Commonwealth Cup history, as the Cavaliers’ defense allowed 579 yards. This loss marked a scary start to Coach Bronco Mendenhall’s tenure as head coach.
12. Nightmare on Hoo Street — Women’s golf, 2015
During the ACC Championships, Briana Mao went head-to-head with Duke’s Leona Maguire for the individual title. In what could’ve been the second individual championship in Virginia women’s golf history, the two leaders were tied after the final round. Maguire narrowly defeated Mao by one stroke in a two-hole playoff, a soul-sucking loss for women’s golf.
11. The silence of the Cavs — 80-47 loss, Women’s basketball, 1989
In the largest margin of defeat ever for the Virginia women’s basketball team, Tennessee possessed the Cavaliers’ defense into allowing 80 points, while simultaneously shutting down former Virginia all-time scorer Dawn Staley and the offense. It was a bone-chilling watch for any fan as the No. 4 seed Cavaliers suffered their worst loss ever in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
10. Maryland massacres Virginia defensemen — 18-0 loss, Men’s lacrosse, 1955
This shutout loss at home to rival Maryland is not only the worst loss in the history of the Virginia men’s lacrosse team but also was the first of eight straight losses to the Terrapins, a six-year losing streak lasting until 1961.
9. Virginia volleyball spooked — 3-1 loss, Volleyball, 1998
Virginia volleyball made its first NCAA Tournament appearance ever in 1998 after finishing the season with a 26-7 record. The Cavaliers faced a 15-11 UCLA squad in their first match with high hopes. The Bruins, however, spooked the Cavaliers into dropping two straight games, resulting in a disappointing postseason debut for Virginia.
8. Virginia boxing cursed forever — Boxing, 1985
Few know that Virginia was once a boxing powerhouse and home to the only boxing team ever to go three consecutive seasons — 1932 to 1936 — without a single loss. Colleges lived in fear of Cavalier boxers until 1985, when the last Virginia boxing match ever occurred, amid waning support for the game.
7. Michael Jordan kills Cavs in cold blood — 64-63 loss, Men’s basketball, 1983
Virginia led by 16 points with eight minutes remaining in the second half, and it seemed that the Cavaliers were a lock to beat overall No. 1 North Carolina. However, Michael Jordan and the Tar Heels came crawling back. Jordan sunk Ralph Sampson’s Cavaliers on a game-winning slam with under a minute to go, ruining Virginia’s chance at pulling off the upset.
6. Vanderbilt becomes Virginia’s worst nightmare — 3-2 loss, Baseball, 2014
Seeking the first NCAA title in program history, Virginia faced Vanderbilt in the College World Series. The series was tied 1-1 heading into a decisive game three, but the Commodores silenced the Cavaliers’ batters. Virginia — down 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning with the bases loaded — failed to produce any runs. It was a painful death for one of the greatest teams in Virginia baseball history.
5. Women’s soccer bewitched in penalty kicks — 4-2 loss, Women’s soccer, 2013
After winning 20 consecutive games in the regular season and cruising to the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, the Virginia women’s soccer team’s historical run came to a gruesome end. The No. 1 Cavaliers fell just short of their first NCAA title game appearance after losing to UCLA in dramatic fashion. The Bruins scored with just five minutes left in the semifinal game to tie it up and then won in penalties, sucking the life out of Cavaliers’ fans.
4. Chaminade haunts Virginia — 77-72 loss, Men’s basketball, 1982
There’s more than one spooky upset in the history of men’s basketball. Chaminade, a small college in Hawaii, took down the undefeated and No. 1 ranked Cavaliers led by Ralph Sampson. At the time, it was considered the biggest upset in NCAA history. The loss against Chaminade was not to be the only time an underdog haunted men’s basketball.
3. James Madison sends Hoos to the grave — 71-62 loss, Women’s basketball, 1986
In James Madison’s first NCAA Tournament appearance ever, the No. 8 seed Dukes upset No. 1 seed Virginia in the Round of 32. It was a humiliating loss at home for the Cavaliers and marked the foreboding first chapter of No. 1 seed horror for Virginia basketball.
2. Phantom penalties spook Cavs against Georgia Tech — 41-38 loss, Football, 1990
Virginia football was No. 1 in the country only 29 years ago, boasting a 7-0 record and two Heisman candidates in receiver Herman Moore and quarterback Shawn Moore. The Cavaliers had championship aspirations going into their game at home against Georgia Tech. However, the Yellow Jackets spooked those hopes, and two illegal-procedure penalties forced Virginia to settle for a field goal instead of scoring from the one-yard line, costing the Cavaliers a chance at a national title.
1. UMBC historically haunts Virginia — 74-54 Loss, Men’s basketball, 2018
No. 1 seeds had a 135-0 all-time record in first round matchups before this infamous game. That was until UMBC’s three-point shooting bewitched the Cavaliers into a double-digit loss. Although Virginia exorcised these demons the following season by winning a national championship, this game was undoubtedly the spookiest moment in the history of Virginia sports.
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