After a successful win Friday over California, Virginia ended its trip to the Golden State on a high note, topping Stanford 2-0 and maintaining an impressive eight-game winning streak. The Cavaliers 8-0, 4-0 ACC) had the clear upper hand over the Cardinal (4-6, 1-3 ACC) throughout the first half, but it was not until the third quarter that they were finally able to break through Stanford’s physical defensive line.
The Cavaliers have dominated this season, nabbing two Defensive Player of the Week honors and recording three conference wins prior to Sunday’s match. Conversely, the Cardinal has struggled thus far in its second year as a member of the ACC, only notching its first conference win of the season against No. 16 Louisville in penalty shootouts Friday. Despite these differences, Stanford held its own against third-ranked Virginia through the first 30 minutes — albeit mainly on the defensive end.
Although the Cavaliers did well to generate offensive opportunities, registering 16 shots compared to the Cardinal’s two, they faced a serious challenge in Stanford’s back line, which played with the ferocity of a group of linebackers. Every time Virginia got around one player, another appeared in their stead.
“It was a super solid performance today at the end of a tough weekend of travel,” Coach Ole Keusgen said. “We controlled the entire game, but couldn’t convert early on a variety of opportunities.”
The highlight of the match proved to be graduate midfielder Suze Leemans, who registered a goal and an assist that gave the Cavaliers the edge over the Cardinal they needed to secure the win. The goal came during a corner, when an errant deflection from a Stanford defender found Leemans’ stick. Without hesitation, Leemans sent a blistering shot into the far corner of the goal, finally ending a stalemate that had lasted more than 30 minutes.
Stanford buckled down defensively after the goal, determined to prevent Virginia from adding to its lead. Leemans had other ideas, though — when an unsuspecting Cardinal defender bobbled a reception, she appeared from behind and stole the ball, taking off towards the cage. Freshman forward Riley Savage sprinted down the field after her, reaching the post just in time for Leemans to take the hit. Savage dove for the tip and succeeded, catching Stanford’s goalkeeper completely off-guard.
Savage and Leemans were not the only Cavaliers that shined in the matchup. The entire defensive line — junior back Mia Abello, freshman back Lauren Sloan and senior back Madison Orsi — were an impenetrable wall against the Cardinal, allowing just two shots on goal and a single corner. Their efforts paid dividends against a team that was riding the high of a ranked upset just two days before.
When Stanford did make it into the circle, however, junior goalkeeper Nilou Lempers made sure to turn them away. In perhaps the only moment of the match that threatened the Cavaliers’ win, a Cardinal forward found an opening in front of goal and flicked the ball towards the post. Lempers shut the attempt down with ease, however, clearing the ball out wide. For the rest of the match, Stanford barely saw the circle, let alone the goal.
Lempers’ poise showed why she is currently second in the country in both save percentage and goals against average. With such a defensive juggernaut in the cage, Virginia is able to focus on generating looks in the offensive third rather than guarding the back. That distinction was crucial against Stanford, whose own staunch defense required all of the Cavaliers’ focus.
Keusgen was proud of his team for winning not only the field battle, but also the mental one, which ultimately earned them the win.
“The team did a great job mentally of staying focused until the end and not allowing a shot in the second half,” Keusgen said. “We are able to win games at the end by taking care of the basics on offense and defense.”
With three consecutive home games on the docket, Virginia will have a well-deserved opportunity to reset from its weekend out west. The first opponent to face the Cavaliers is Duke, which Virginia will play Friday. The match is slated to begin at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACCNX.
Read More
Virginia falls in four sets again at JPJ, this time to California
By Cierra Lyles | 2 hours ago“Right now with where we're at, it doesn’t matter who we play,” Wells said. “We just have to play better.”
Mind the (roster) gap: Virginia exhibits true depth amid Golden Goggles absences
By Aimee Crosbie | 8 hours agoWith a lighter travel squad for Saturday’s exhibition at Navy’s Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, Md., the Cavaliers staged a scrimmage-style meet with a couple of twists.
Despite promising effort against No. 3 Stanford, Virginia loses after slow start
By Cierra Lyles | 10 hours agoDespite the loss, the Cavaliers showed might against one of the best teams in the nation.
