The Cavaliers got support off the bench in a second-half surge as No. 8 UVA (12-3-2, 5-2-2 ACC) rallied to pick up a 3-2 win over Boston College (10-7-1, 2-7-0 ACC) on Senior Day at Klöckner Stadium.
Redshirt freshman Jasmine Wright (Crownsville, Md.) hit her first career goal to put the Cavaliers ahead in the match. Wright’s goal was sandwiched between a game-tying goal from senior Alexis Shaffer (Cary, N.C) and what proved to be the game-winner from senior Kristen McNabb (Montville, N.J.).
With the win, the Cavaliers pulled even with Boston College in the all-time series. The series is now tied 7-7-2.
Virginia will now go on the road to close the regular season at Louisville on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The Cavaliers will be playing for seeding in the upcoming ACC Tournament, while the Cardinals will be playing to secure a berth in the eight-team tournament.
“We finished some goals in the second half, which made a difference obviously,” said Virginia head coach Steve Swanson. “We came back from a goal down, which was something we hadn’t done all year. We had some production off the bench. Jasmine and Montana did a good job and deserve a lot of credit.
“Boston College took us out of our game and for a lot of it we were not sharp,” Swanson said. “We were fortunate to get a win today. We have to learn from this. We’re down to the last few games and teams are battling for their ACC and NCAA Tournament lives. We have to rise to that.”
Boston College struck early, taking advantage of a one-on-one opportunity as the Eagles sent the ball ahead to McKenzie Meehan on a counter. The forward dribbled in past the defense and took her shot from eight yards out, slipping the ball past the Virginia keeper for the 1-0 lead.
Following the goal by the Eagles, the Cavaliers turned up the offensive pressure. Virginia fired off four shots in the next two minutes and held an 11-to-4 edge in shots when a foul in the box set up a penalty kick for the home team in the 33rd minute. The Boston College keeper made the stop on the kick, holding the lead for the Eagles.
A second penalty kick opportunity came for the Cavaliers in the 52nd minute of play. The Cavaliers sent the ball down the field for Hana Kerner (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) who sprinted down the field and in behind the Eagle defense. The Boston College keeper came out to make the stop, but collided with Kerner for the foul and the yellow card.
Shaffer took the penalty kick, converting to tie the game 1-1.
Virginia took the lead moments later when Wright hit her goal as Boston College failed to clear a corner kick. The Eagles sent the ball back toward mid-field, but to the feet of Wright just outside the box. The redshirt freshman struck quickly and slipped the ball in across the goal and in past the near post for the 2-1 lead.
The Cavaliers added to the lead in the 74th minute. Montana Sutton (Bedminster, N.J.) sent in a well-placed service off a corner kick to McNabb in the center of the box where the senior defender leaped and headed it into the goal.
A foul in the 80th minute set up a free kick for the Eagles in the penalty arc. Gaby Carreiro took the free kick and put it in the net, cutting the Virginia lead to 3-2.
The Cavalier defense clamped down from there, holding things in check for the final 10 minutes of play to secure the win for Virginia.
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