Men’s Soccer: No. 13 Cavaliers come up short against Colgate, 1-0

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Despite a heavy advantage in possession and chance creation, the No. 13 Virginia men’s soccer team fell to Colgate by a score of 1-0 on Sunday night at Klöckner Stadium.

The Cavaliers registered 28 shot attempts and held the Raiders to just three on the night. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cavaliers (1-1-0) controlled the game from the opening kick and fired a warning shot early as Danny Mangarov cut inside on his left foot and lifted his attempt just over the bar.

The Cavaliers came inches away from scoring once again in the 15th minute when Umberto Pelà put a powerful header on frame, but was denied by Colgate goalkeeper Oliver Townsend. 

Virginia kept its foot on the gas throughout the first half as Cesar Cordova, Kome Ubogu, Brendan Lambe and Nacho Alem all threatened to open the scoring but were unable to finish.  

With just over eight minutes remaining in the first half, it was Colgate (1-1-0) that opened the scoring on just its second opportunity of the game, as Jack Beerling tucked his shot from distance into the bottom left corner. Virginia went into the halftime break trailing 1-0. 

In the second half, Virginia continued to apply pressure while facing a low block. Umberto Pelà threatened to level the game firing a low shot destined for the left corner but was denied by the goalkeeper. 

Minutes later, Lambe left a ball at the top of the penalty area for Mangarov who nudged his fifth attempt of the game wide of the post.  

In the 76th minute of play, Ubogu was taken down in the penalty area drawing a penalty kick. Stepping up to the spot himself, his attempt rattled off the right post and a rebound attempt was deflected out of play.  

With three minutes left to play in the game, Alem one-timed a rebound effort from inside the penalty area towards goal but was denied by a diving Townsend.

GOALS
Colgate: 37’ — Jack Beerling (Unassisted)

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The Cavaliers have split their opening two games of the campaign for the third consecutive season—in both of the previous seasons, Virginia went on to earn a top-eight seed in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship 

• Virginia outshot Colgate by a margin of 10-2 in the first half. UVA put four of its first-half chances on frame while Colgate scored on its only shot on target 

• For the game, the Cavaliers took a total of 28 shots compared to Colgate’s three 

• The Cavaliers controlled 72-percent of possession 

• Virginia took eight corners and conceded just one  

• Colgate goalkeeper, Oliver Townsend, made eight saves 

• Kome Ubogu led all participants with a career-high seven shots on the day. Mangarov took five while Pelà took four.

• Four outfield players played the full 90 minutes for Virginia including: Dang, Pelà, Lambe, and Mangarov 

FROM HEAD COACH GEORGE GELNOVATCH

“Really disappointed. They had one shot on goal. It’s been a while since I was a part of a game like that. There was complete domination, yet you end up on the wrong side of that. This is a game, we had several of them last year, where you end one-to-nothing. You score on the penalty or one of the other two or three really good chances.

”What you don’t do is give up a goal to a team like this. Because now they become more resolute…This time last year we lost the same game of the season. In the moment it doesn’t make it any less frustrating. But we’ve been playing very well and we will continue to get better.”

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers will look to regroup on Thursday when they host Saint Joseph’s. First kick from Klöckner is scheduled for 7 p.m.