No. 9 Virginia outlasts Robert Morris, 14-12

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The No. 9 Virginia Cavaliers (6-2) scored four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to fend off the Robert Morris Colonials (3-4) on Saturday afternoon, 14-12, at Klöckner Stadium.

With the score tied, 10-10, and 9:05 left to play, Dox Aitken dodged and stuck a left-handed shot high to complete his hat-trick and start a decisive 4-0 run to secure the win. Matt Moore assisted the next three UVA goals, one by Jared Conners, another on a stepdown by Peter Garno and a transition goal by Scott Bower capped the run to solidify the victory.

Robert Morris took its only lead of the game, 2-1, after scoring back-to-back goals in the first quarter. Ryan Smith’s unassisted goal at 7:21 capped the mini spurt. RMU’s lead lasted seven seconds as Petey LaSalla won the ensuing faceoff and found Payton Cormier for an easy score, tying the game at 2-2.

Cormier’s goal, his second of the game, started a 6-1 Virginia streak as the Cavaliers took a 7-3 lead. Cormier scored three times in the run, including the last two. Cormier’s fourth goal of the game came with 7:08 left to play in the second quarter.

RMU started a 7-3 run of their own to tie the game at 10-10. Corson Kealey scored with 12:24 left to play, tying the game for the final time. But UVA went on the final 4-0 run to pick up the non-conference win.