Edward Opoku (So., Rye, N.Y.) scored in the 79th minute to lift the UVA men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over Hofstra Tuesday night at Klöckner Stadium. Virginia (5-2-3) recorded its third straight shutout while snapping the Hofstra (6-4-1) four-match win streak.
“Hofstra is a good team, an NCAA (tournament) team, and that’s why this win is really good,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “Once again, the second half was where we started to come alive and wear other teams down. That goal doesn’t happen in the first half, but we were patient and kept wearing them down with our passing and that’s what happens.”
Virginia has not conceded in its last 317 minutes of play. UVA goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell (Jr., Todd, N.C.) recorded three saves, while Hofstra keeper Alex Ashton picked up five saves.
UVA out-shot Hofstra, 13-8, including a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal. UVA also held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. The Cavaliers out-shot Hofstra 10-3 in the second half.
After a relatively uneventful first half, play opened up in the second half, with both sides coming up with quality chances. Virginia started to rack up a decided possession advantage as the match wore on, and cashed in with a goal in the 79th minute.
Jean-Christophe Koffi (So., Potomac, Md.) sent a ball forward and deep down the left flank to connect with Daniel Barir (So., Copenhagen, Denmark), who sent a cross on the first touch inside the six-yard box to Opoku, who tapped the ball high and into the net for his team-leading fourth score of the year. Barir was credited with his team-high fourth assist, while Koffi also earned an assist.
Virginia returns to ACC play Friday (Oct. 7) as it heads to No. 4 North Carolina for a 7 p.m. match.
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Chris Graham
