Men’s soccer: No. 17 UVA advances in ACC Tournament with 1-0 win over NC State

The sixth-seeded UVA men’s soccer team used a late goal from Pablo Aguilar (R-Jr., Guatemala City, Guatemala) to oust No. 11-seed North Carolina State from the first round of the ACC tournament, 1-0, Wednesday night at Klöckner Stadium. Unbeaten in their last 10 matches, the Cavaliers (10-2-5) move on to face third-seeded Louisville at 1 p.m. Sunday in the quarterfinals at UL’s Lynn Stadium.

NC State ends its season with a 5-12-0 record.

Ranked 17th nationally, Virginia recorded its fifth straight clean sheet and extended its scoreless streak to 498 consecutive minutes. UVA goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell (Jr., Todd, N.C.) earned his ninth shutout of the season and the 17th of his career, matching Tony Meola (1988-89) for fifth in program history.

“We were a little lethargic today, I’ve got to say. But from the other standpoint, it’s November, and when you win in November, it’s a good thing,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “I would also worry – as a coach you worry about everything – if we were out here buzzing tonight, scoring two, three, four goals, and then trying to replicate it to get ready for the next one.”

While both teams had quality chances in both halves, the Cavaliers struck for the lone score in the 82nd minute. Aguilar sent a ball down the left flank to Sheldon Sullivan (R-Jr., Stafford, Va.), who whipped a cross into the box. NC State goalkeeper Alex McCauley came off his line to dive and for the ball, but it caromed away from him, and Aguilar collected the loose ball and fired it into the open net from just inside the top of the box.

The goal was Aguilar’s sixth of the season and his second straight game winner after his late goal lifted UVA to a 1-0 win over Duke in the regular-season finale.

NC State out-shot Virginia, 13-8, although Virginia put three shots on frame to just two for the Wolfpack. Both goalkeepers recorded a pair of saves.

With its 10th win tonight, Virginia posted its 36th straight season of 10 or more wins, including all 20 seasons under Gelnovatch.

Virginia played at Louisville on Sept. 24 and was handed a 6-1 defeat. UVA has not lost since that match (7-0-3) and has conceded just twice in that span.