Men’s soccer: No. 19 UVA blanks Marshall

No. 19 UVA (2-0-2) produced its third shutout of the season after a 1-0 victory over Marshall (2-3-2) at Klöckner Stadium. Freshman Cabrel Happi Kamseu (Harare, Zimbabwe) was credited with the game-winner in the 44th minute.

The goal for Happi Kamseu was the first of his career and the third of the season for the Cavaliers. The tally went unassisted as Happi Kamseu carried the ball down the middle of the field and fired a laser from outside the box into the upper left corner of the goal.

“I think he (Happi Kamseu) was great tonight, the goal was spectacular,” head coach George Gelnovatch said. “It was his first start in the central midfield and it was pretty clear he was comfortable there.”

The goal proved to be all the Cavaliers needed as the Virginia back line has now kept three of its four opponents this season off the scoreboard. Coming into the match, Virginia ranked eighth in the country in goals against average (0.29).

The back line comprised of Prosper Figbe (Ilorin Nigeria), Aboubacar Keita (Columbus, Ohio) and Henry Kessler (New York, N.Y.) played all 90 minutes in front of goalkeeper Colin Shutler (Broadlands, Va.) who was only tested once. His lone save of the night came in the 79th minute on a quality look by Marshall’s Jamir Roberts.

“Tactically we were great in the first half, we negated what they were good at, we pressured them and got the goal late,” added Gelnovatch. “Looking forward, we need to get that second goal so it’s less tense down the stretch.”

The halftime lead for Virginia was the first of the season and the Cavaliers have yet to concede a second half goal in its first four games.

Virginia out-shot the Herd, 15-9 in the contest and held an 8-6 advantage in corner kicks. Only one of Marshall’s nine shots landed on target. Forward Nathaniel Crofts (Sheffield, England) was matched by his countryman, Marshall forward Jamil Roberts (Langport, England), with a game-high four shots.

With Friday’s Atlantic Coast Conference match against. 8 Notre Dame postponed due to Hurricane Florence, Virginia will return home on Tuesday, Sept. 18 to host FIU at Klöckner Stadium.