Men’s soccer: UVA surges past Cornell, 4-0

The UVA men’s soccer team scored three second-half goals in an 11-minute span to pull away from Cornell, 4-0, Tuesday evening at Klöckner Stadium. Paddy Foss (Sr., South Riding, Va.) scored on a first-half penalty kick, while Wesley Wade (So., South Orange, N.J.) and Sergi Nus (So., Barcelona, Spain) each recorded second-half goals for Virginia (4-2-2), which also benefited from a Cornell (0-7-2) own goal.

“Having a quick turnaround (from the Louisville match last Saturday) and getting back on the horse was perfect for us,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “We were able to make a lot of changes tonight with another quick turnaround for Friday against Virginia Tech. It worked out well for us.

“We scored four goals and won and got our rhythm back. I didn’t expect anything less. Our confidence wasn’t shaken, but things like that happen. We learned a lot about ourselves. We were good tonight and we will be ready for a much-improved opponent on Friday night.”

Virginia out-shot Cornell, 11-5, and made the most of its shots, putting nine on goal. Cornell had two shots on goal, each saved by Jeff Caldwell (Jr., Todd, N.C.), who recorded his second clean sheet of the season. Cornell goalkeeper Ryan Shellow made five saves.

The Cavaliers forged ahead in the 34th minute when a charging Robin Afamefuna (Fr., Wuerselen, Germany) was fouled in the box to force a penalty kick. Foss stepped to the spot and ripped it past Shellow for his second goal of the season.

Virginia exploded for three goals in an 11-minute period midway through the second half. Minutes after being denied by Shellow, Wade came through to give UVA a 2-0 lead. Pablo Aguilar (R-Jr., Guatemala City, Guatemala) sent a beautiful ball from near midfield ahead to free up Wade, who juked near the top of the box and sent an arcing shot inside the left upper 90 for his third goal of the year.

UVA created another chance in the 77th minute when Julian Cummings (So., Fredericksburg, Va.) whipped a dangerous cross toward the far post, and with Aguilar charging in, the ball caromed into the goal off a Cornell defender for an own goal and a 3-0 edge.

The Cavaliers added their final goal just over two minutes later as Nus took a free kick from just outside the top of the box and placed it just under the crossbar for his third score of the season.

Virginia remains home Friday (Sept. 30) for an ACC match against No. 18 Virginia Tech. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.