Women’s Soccer: No. 25 Hoos snap skid with 3-0 shutout on Senior Night

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photos: UVA Athletics

The offense got rolling for No. 25 Virginia on Thursday, as the Cavaliers posted a 3-0 victory over NC State at Klöckner Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia (9-4-0, 2-4-0 ACC) started quickly after kickoff, bringing the ball down the right side of the field. Laney Rouse cut in along the endline and served a ball across the box to Maggie Cagle who volleyed it to Meredith McDermott at the middle of the six. McDermott’s left-footed shot down the middle put the Hoos on the board.

The Cavaliers doubled the lead in the 72nd minute starting on an outlet from Yuna McCormack down the left side. The long ball ahead to McDermott was picked up in stride behind the defense  as the forward cut into the box. The defense collapsed on her and she tapped it back toward the spot where Allie Ross finished with a shot in the upper left corner.

The third goal came in the 75th minute off the foot of Maya Carter. Laughlin Ryan started the play near the top right corner of the box, splitting defenders with a pass ahead to Cagle. The junior picked up the ball near the edge of the six with a touch to settle it and sent it in to Carter who finished near the middle of the six.

GOALS
UVA: 2’ – Meredith McDermott (Maggie Cagle, Laney Rouse)
UVA: 72’ – Allie Ross (Meredith McDermott)
UVA: 75’ – Maya Carter (Maggie Cagle, Laughlin Ryan)

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • The win was Virginia’s 30th all-time over NC State (3-9-2, 0-5-1), as the Hoos lead the series 30-13-3.
  • Meredith McDermott’s goal was the ninth earliest goal in program history – the eighth earliest in a regular-season contest. The goal came 60 seconds into the game.
  • McDermott has scored in back-to-back games after also scoring at No. 2 Duke last weekend.
  • The two assists from Maggie Cagle was a season high and marks her fourth career game with two assists.
  • Virginia took 30 shots in the game, the most against an ACC team since 32 in last season’s finale at Syracuse (10/26/23) which was a 4-0 victory for the Hoos.
  • Virginia honored seven seniors prior to the game: Emma Dawson, Samar Guidry, Chloe Japic, Moira Kelley, Camryn Miller, Degen Miller and Alexis Theoret.

FROM HEAD COACH STEVE SWANSON

“It was a good way to honor our seniors to get a win and get our momentum back a little bit. It was our most consistent 90 minutes we’ve played all year. I’m proud of the team because it’s not been an easy stretch for us and we had a little history made on that side of things. There are a lot of lessons we’ve learned and I think it will help us. Now we’re trying to maximize our games. As good as this win is, we have to get ready for SMU on Sunday and take advantage of our home field.”

UP NEXT

Virginia continues to play at home on Sunday when the Cavaliers host SMU. Kick is set for 1 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium.