Top-ranked Virginia got out to a two-goal lead, then weathered a late attack from Virginia Tech to post the 2-1 win on Saturday at Klöckner Stadium.
Big win for the ‘Hoos (10-0-1, 4-0-0 ACC), ahead of a cross-country trip next week to face Cal and #3 Stanford.
“We’re happy we got the win. They’re never an easy team to play, and it’s always been a competitive game,” said UVA coach Steve Swanson.
The Hokies (4-6-3, 0-4-1 ACC) have played in five of the last six NCAA Tournaments, but they’ve been on the struggle bus in 2025 – after a 3-0 start, they’ve now won just one of their last 10.
Virginia got on them early, in the 14th minute, with a goal from Maggie Cagle, who received a throw-in inside the attacking third near the right corner of the box, and turned and weaved through defenders along the top of the box before a sliver of an opening allowed her to take the shot as she approached the penalty arc.
Cagle’s rocket slipped in between the keeper and the near post for the 1-0 lead.
The ‘Hoos doubled the lead in the 64th minute with a play from Lia Godfrey that mirrored the strike from Cagle. Godfrey received a throw-in on the left side of the field at the top of the attacking third. She turned on the attack and drove toward the box. Godfrey split a pair of defenders and then as she approached the penalty arc, the midfielder pulled up and fired a shot between two more defenders and slipped it in past the near post for the 2-0 lead.
Virginia Tech got a goal back in the 73rd minute when Madi Boutot played a long ball over the top to Natalie Mitchell on a run approaching the box. The forward picked the ball up and took her shot as she approached the right corner of the six, sending the shot across the face of goal for the score.
The game was played in front of 3,611 fans, which was the third largest attendance for a game in program history that wasn’t part of a doubleheader.
“It was a tremendous crowd, and we appreciate all the fans who came out to support us. That was a difference maker for us,” Swanson said.
Next up for Virginia is the first game of the two-game Left Coast swing, at Cal (6-1-6, 2-0-2 ACC), on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Share
Chris Graham
