Women’s Soccer: Hoos shut out Hokies in Commonwealth Clash, 3-0

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia women’s soccer team posted its sixth shutout of the season on the way to a 3-0 victory over Virginia Tech in a Smithfield Commonwealth Clash matchup at Klöckner Stadium on Sunday.

GOALS (ASSISTS)
10’ – UVA: Chloe Japic (unassisted)
58’ – UVA: Allie Ross (Meredith McDermott)
64’ – UVA: Maggie Cagle (unassisted)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia (6-3-5, 1-3-3 ACC) struck in the 10th minute as Chloe Japic served a ball in toward Maggie Cagle making a run into the six. Cagle went up for a header and the keeper bit on the leap, but the ball went past Cagle and bounced between the Hokie keeper’s legs for the score.

The second goal came in the 58th minute as Meredith McDermott drove down the middle of the field and cut toward the left of the box. She took her shot that was deflected up in the air by the sliding keeper toward Ross at the center of the six who finished with a header on the open net.

Maggie Cagle provided the third goal just six minutes later. Cagle received the ball in the top left corner of the box and danced around defenders as she moved toward the top of the box. She finally created a brief opening and fired her shot into the side netting by the right post for the 3-0 lead.

NOTES

• Fifth-year defender Talia Staude made her 100th appearance for the Hoos with the start against the Hokies (6-6-3, 3-4-0).
• Japic scored her first goal as a Cavaliers and fourth career goal with her first-half strike.
• Cagle took the team lead in goals with her seventh of the season.
• Virginia is now 23-4-2 all-time against Virginia Tech and are 16-1-0 in home games against the Hokies.
• It was the sixth shutout of the season for the Hoos and fifth of the season for Cayla White.
• White now was 24 wins in goal for her career to tie for 10th all-time at Virginia with Julie Harris (1998-2000).

FROM HEAD COACH STEVE SWANSON

“It was a great team win. From start to finish we did what we wanted to do in the game. We asserted ourselves on the attacking side and a did good job neutralizing their transition. They are a good transition team and have scored a lot of goals in transition. We did a good job of defending set plays as well. It was a complete team win. I’m proud of the team. It’s been tough to get three points here in the conference, but hopefully this gets us some momentum and a little kickstart here.”

Head coach Steve Swanson on the win over Virginia Tech in Sunday.#GoHoos | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/QDkDgkJxHR

— Virginia Women’s Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) October 15, 2023

THE SMITHFIELD COMMONWEALTH CLASH

The Smithfield Commonwealth Clash, originally called the Commonwealth Challenge (2005-2007), has been a part of the UVA-Virginia Tech rivalry since 2014. It is an all-sports, points-based program with the Commonwealth Clash trophy presented to the winning school each year for its dominance in head-to-head competitions.

With today’s win, Virginia picks up a point in the competition and leads Virginia Tech 1.0 – 0 in the overall score.

UP NEXT

Virginia continues its homestand on Thursday when the Cavaliers host Miami at 7 p.m. It is the first of two home games on the week for the Hoos. Virginia will close the home portion of the regular season against Boston College on Senior Day at 2 p.m. on Sunday.