Women’s Soccer: No. 2 UVA suffers first loss against Wake Forest, 3-0

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

No. 2 Virginia fell for the first time this season, as the Cavaliers dropped a 3-0 contest to Wake Forest at Klöckner Stadium on Sunday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Wake Forest (6-2-1, 1-1-0 ACC) took the lead in the 17th minute with a redirect from Caiya Hanks inside the six. Emily Murphy brought the ball across midfield and attacked down the right side of the box. As she approached the end line, she cut to her left with a pass to Murphy at the top of the six for the redirect to the left of the keeper.

Wake Forest doubled the lead on the Cavaliers (8-1-0, 1-1-0) off a free kick that was awarded after players got tangled up near the center circle in the 35th minute. Zara Chavosi sent a ball in that was initially deflected by a Virginia defender in the air, but the ball fell to Sierra Sythe near the six and she finished for the score.

The Demon Deacons added a third goal a little over two minutes later as Hanks struck in transition off a through ball from Emily Colton. The ball played diagonally allowed Hanks to get behind the defense in stride on the left side and she finished with the strike across the face of goal and in the side netting past the right post.

GOALS
WF: 17’ – Caiya Hanks (Emily Murphy)
WF: 35’ – Sierra Sythe (Zara Chavosi)
WF: 37’ – Caiya Hanks (Emily Colton)

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• With the result, the all-time series sits at 21-9-4 in favor of the Hoos and UVA has won eight of the last 11.
• The three goals is the most surrendered by Virginia since a 3-3 draw at Virginia Tech (10/13/22)
• It’s the first time Virginia has been shut out since a 2-0 loss at Wake Forest last season (9/24/23)

FROM HEAD COACH STEVE SWANSON

“It was a tough result, obviously. The first half was the difference in the game. We didn’t play very well in the first half; we conceded some goals we haven’t normally given up this year and that was disappointing. We gave the ball away too easily at times and didn’t get enough chances throughout the whole game. We have to take responsibility for that – I certainly do – and bounce back for our next game.

“We had a great crowd on a great day, but it didn’t happen for us which is unfortunate. There is a lot we can learn from this game, but we have to take the lessons and apply them this week in preparation for Notre Dame.”

UP NEXT

Virginia will continue to play at home next weekend with a single game as the Cavaliers host No. 13 Notre Dame on Saturday. Kick is set for 7 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium and it will be the program’s Alumni Weekend and Pride Game.