Virginia women’s soccer traveled to Morgantown, W.Va., Thursday night to face West Virginia in its first game of the 2025 campaign, squeezing out a hard-fought win against the Mountaineers (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Big 12). The close contest inspired tenacity from the Cavaliers (1-0-0, 0-0-0 ACC) down the stretch — tenacity they hope will be a hallmark of the season to come.
The deciding moment of the game came in the 64th minute, when graduate midfielder Lia Godfrey’s corner kick found an unmarked junior midfielder Ella Carter, who headed the ball home at the near post. Coach Steve Swanson emphasized afterward that, in a game that came down to the finest margins, it would take a special moment to take the upper hand.
“The goal was executed very well, and it was going to take a goal like that to break through,” Swanson said. “We now have some time to continue to train and build our team in this next week which will be helpful for us.”
West Virginia set the tone early in the match, pressing high initially before falling into a low block when the high press proved ineffective against Virginia’s turnover-resistant buildup play.
The first half ended without many good-looking chances for either side. Although the Cavaliers held the lion’s share of possession, they always missed the final pass between the lines to create scoring opportunities. The Mountaineers had seemingly settled into their game plan — let Virginia have the ball, and counter quickly after winning it back.
The second half was much more open compared to the first, however, as both sides looked to break the deadlock. Speedy West Virginia senior forward Taylor White profited from the Mountaineers’ tactical setup and was a thorn in the Cavaliers’ side throughout the contest, especially after the break. White was able to beat Virginia’s defenders for pace and track long passes played on the counter. Yet neither White nor any of her teammates were able to fully break through.
Carter’s header in the 64th minute provided the Cavaliers with a sense of relief — their passing combinations had finally paid off — and West Virginia with a sense of urgency. As time wound down, the Mountaineers found their second wind and went on the front foot. They pinged passes into the Cavaliers’ box, and a couple erratic bounces caused serious concern for junior goalkeeper Victoria Safradin, but Virginia held on to its clean sheet.
“[It was a] hard-fought game, as all of our games against West Virginia have been through the years,” Swanson said. “But I’m proud of the way the team battled throughout the game, especially in the second half.”
Graduate defender Laney Rouse was undoubtedly the Cavaliers’ player of the match. Her play on the right side was twofold, as she held West Virginia’s wing play in check while still delivering quality passes and taking the space with great ball-carrying ability. Additionally, senior forward Meredith McDermott was a great asset to the Virginia attack when she was subbed on. Her speed and smart pressing play resulted in some of the Cavaliers’ only chances of the game, and she almost profited from some lackadaisical Mountaineer defending late in the first half.
Virginia is sure to be glad it gutted out the win, especially in an early-season matchup where both sides are still trying to find their footing and tactical identity. The Cavaliers looked to be focusing on their dynamic wing play and experienced midfield to keep the ball and create opportunities.
Virginia is back in action Thursday when it hosts Xavier at Klöckner Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
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