Men’s soccer: Late Aguilar goal lifts No. 17 UVA to 1-0 win over Duke

Pablo Aguilar (R-Jr., Guatemala City, Guatemala) scored a fantastic goal in the 87th minute to propel the No. 17 UVA men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over Duke Friday evening on Senior Night in the regular-season finale at Klöckner Stadium. Virginia (9-2-5, 3-2-3 ACC) concluded the regular season with a nine-match unbeaten streak, its longest since an 11-game unbeaten stretch in 2013.

UVA also recorded its fourth straight clean sheet, extending its scoreless streak to 408 minutes.

“Duke was tough to break down, but in the second half we wore them down and had some great chances,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “We were patient and what a great goal from Pablo. This was a big win for us.”

With the victory, Virginia clinched a first-round home game in the ACC tournament at 7 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 2). The Cavaliers will be the No. 6 seed and play host to No. 11 seed NC State. The teams did not meet in the regular season.

After a scoreless first half with chances on both sides, Virginia dominated play in the second half, outshooting the Blue Devils (7-7-1, 2-5-1), 8-1, while maintaining a massive possession edge.

Virginia scored the match’s lone goal on a tremendous, bending strike from Aguilar in the 87th minute. Jean-Christophe Koffi (So., Potomac, Md.) sent a short ball forward to find Aguilar, who planted and shifted direction to put the ball on his right foot before sending a shot from just outside the top of the box, curling it high and just inside the far post for the goal. It was his fifth goal of the year.

UVA goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell (Jr., Todd, N.C.) made four saves in his eighth clean sheet of the season, but he also came up with a critical stop in the final minute of the match when he alertly stopped an errant ball in the box that caromed off a UVA defender and nearly went for an own goal. Duke goalkeeper Robert Moewes made one save. Virginia out-shot Duke, 11-7, and held a 7-5 edge in corner kicks.

Prior to the match, Virginia celebrated its fourth-year class during Senior Night ceremonies, honoring Aguilar, Nicko Corriveau (Potomac, Md.), Paddy Foss (South Riding, Va.), Hayes Fountain (Charlottesville, Va.), Adam Prevost (Earlysville, Va.), Wesley Suggs (Bowie, Md.) and Sheldon Sullivan (Stafford, Va.).

 

ACC Tournament Ticket Information

Tickets for the first-round ACC tournament match are $9 for reserved seats, $7 for adult general admission and $5 for youth/senior general admission. Students of UVA and NC State receive free admission with valid ID. There is no Faculty/Staff rate for this event.

Reserved seats are being held for 2016 Reserved Season Ticket holders for a limited time.

Tickets may be purchased beginning at 9 a.m. Monday. Fans can order tickets online at VirginiaSports.com and by phone through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office at 800-542-UVA1 (8821) or 434-924-UVA1 (8821). Tickets are also available at the Klöckner Stadium box office beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Gates will open at 6 p.m.