The top-ranked Virginia women’s soccer team ran its win streak to 11 straight games with a 1-0 victory over No. 22 Maryland Sunday in front of a record crowd of 2,540 at Klöckner Stadium. Sophomore Brittany Ratcliffe (Williamstown, N.J.) scored the lone goal of the afternoon with 17 seconds remaining in the first half to keep the Cavaliers (11-0, 5-0 ACC) as the nation’s only unbeaten and untied team. The Terrapins fell to 6-5 overall, 2-3 in the conference with the loss.
“To get a result today against a very good Maryland team was what we were looking for,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “I think the crowd was a big factor in the game. We came off a three-game road trip and we may not have quite had our legs, but the crowd gave us a lot of energy. Maryland was in the same situation and they gave us everything they had defensively. It is not easy to get wins in this conference, so we really have to thank our fans for this one.”
The Cavaliers had the better of chances throughout the first half, but couldn’t find the opening goal until late in the period. With time ticking down to the break, Ratcliffe received a ball in the midfield and dribbled to the top of the box, where she chipped a left-footed shot over the keeper for her seventh goal of the season. All seven of Ratcliffe’s goals have come off the bench as she set a new Virginia season record for goals as a substitute.
Virginia outshot the Terrapins 11-4 in the second half, but couldn’t add to the lead. Despite being held to a season-low one goal, the Cavaliers were able to post the victory by recording their sixth shutout of the season.
The Cavaliers outshot Maryland 21-9 on the afternoon and had a 5-3 corner kick advantage. Freshman Morgan Stearns (San Antonio, Texas) made three saves in goal for Virginia to post her fourth shutout of the season. Rachelle Beanlands made five saves for the Terrapins.
Sunday’s crowd of 2,540 was a new Klöckner Stadium record for a women’s soccer contest. It shattered the previous record of 2,011, set against Virginia Tech in 2007.
Virginia continues its three-game homestand on Oct. 6 as it hosts Clemson. Game time at Klöckner Stadium is 2 p.m.
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Chris Graham
