The top-ranked Virginia women’s soccer team recorded its first ranked road win of the season, downing No. 11 Wake Forest 2-0 Sunday at Spry Stadium. Sophomore forward Brittany Ratcliffe (Williamstown, N.J.) and first-year midfielder Alexis Shaffer (Cary, N.C.) tallied goals late in the first half as the Cavaliers (14-0, 8-0 ACC) remained the nation’s lone unbeaten and untied team. The Demon Deacons (8-3-2 3-3-2 ACC) suffered their first home loss of the season.
“This has always been a tough place for us to get a result, so we are happy to get the win,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “We started a little slow today as there was a little residual effects from Thursday night. We moved the ball well at times a created some chances, especially in the second half. The only thing we could have done better was finish a few more of the chances we created. Wake is a good team and we knew this was going to be a good test for us. It was also good for our team to get the shutout.”
The first half saw few chances either way over the first 35 minutes before the Cavaliers had a surge over the final 10 minutes. In the 36th minute, Ratcliffe was unmarked at the top of the 6-yard box when she headed in a cross from senior defender Shasta Fisher (Saugus, Calif.) for her eighth goal of the season. Five minutes later Virginia struck again to double the lead. Senior forward Amber Fry (Northfield, Ill.) took a corner that was headed at the near post by sophomore defender Emily Sonnett (Marietta, Ga.) to Shaffer at the far post. She controlled the ball and tapped in her third goal of the season.
Virginia had the better of the chances in the second half, out-shooting the Demon Deacons 10-2 over the final 45 minutes, but couldn’t find a third goal. The Cavaliers’ two first-half goals were enough as the defense posted its eighth shutout of the season.
Overall, Virginia outshot Wake Forest 15-3 and had a 4-2 corner kick edge. First-year goalkeeper Morgan Stearns (San Antonio, Texas) made one save to record her fifth shutout of the season. Aubrey Bledsoe made seven saves at the other end for the Demon Deacons.
With Sunday’s results, Virginia became the first team to clinch a place in this year’s ACC Tournament.
Virginia will continue its three-game road trip on Thursday as it visits No. 11 NC State. Game time in Raleigh is 7 p.m., and match will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
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