No. 2 Virginia and Syracuse play to 2-2 draw

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

A pair of freshmen got into the scoring column for the Cavaliers on Sunday, but the teams walked away with a draw as No. 2 Virginia played Syracuse to a 2-2 result at Klöckner Stadium.

Freshman Maggie Cagle delivered a goal and an assist on the afternoon, while freshman Jill Flammia found the net for the second time this season as the duo led the Virginia offense on the afternoon.

GOALS (ASSISTS)
2’ – SU: Own goal by UVA
24’ – UVA: Maggie Cagle (unassisted)
63’ – UVA: Jill Flammia (Maggie Cagle)
89’ – SU: Koby Commandant (Pauline Machtens)

HOW IT HAPPENED

After Syracuse (8-5-1, 1-4-1 ACC) got on the board with an own-goal by Virginia in the second minute, the Cavaliers (10-2-2, 3-2-1) fought their way back into the game, scoring a goal in each half to take the lead on the Orange.

Cagle struck the first one for the Hoos with her unassisted goal in the 24th minute. Cagle got the ball out on the right wing and cut in around a defender into the top corner of the box, driving her shot across the face of the goal and in past the back post.

The second goal came on a Cagle assist with the freshman driving down the right side of the box in the 63rd minute before playing a ball in to Flammia near the penalty spot. The freshman-to-freshman connection was a success, as Flammia’s one-touch redirect was in to give UVA the 2-1 lead.

Syracuse found the equalizer in the 89th minute after a takeaway at the top of the box. The initial shot by Pauline Machtens was saved and deflected by Virginia’s keeper, but the deflected ball was cleaned up by Koby Commandant to secure the draw.

NOTES

• The draw was the first in the series, though the Cavaliers remain undefeated against Syracuse at 7-0-1 all-time.
• The goals were the first scored by Syracuse at Klöckner Stadium in the series.
• Virginia out-shot the Orange 24-3 on the afternoon despite the draw.

FROM HEAD COACH STEVE SWANSON

“Obviously a very disappointing result today given the game. But, right now we are not making plays on both ends of the field and that has been the difference. We have a lot of soccer left to play though and we will find out what our team is made of right now.”

UP NEXT

Virginia heads back out on the road in ACC play, traveling to take on Virginia Tech in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash. Kick is set for 8 p.m. on Thursday.