Women’s Soccer: #25 Virginia defeats NC State, 3-0, on Senior Night

Virginia got on the board in the second minute, and never looked back on its way to a 3-0 win over NC State on Thursday at Klöckner Stadium.

UVA (9-4-0, 2-4-0 ACC) started quickly after kickoff, bringing the ball down the right side of the field. Laney Rouse cut in along the endline and served a ball across the box to Maggie Cagle, who volleyed it to Meredith McDermott at the middle of the six.

McDermott’s left-footed shot down the middle put the Hoos on the board.

It would stay there until the 72nd minute, starting on an outlet from Yuna McCormack down the left side. The long ball ahead to McDermott was picked up in stride behind the defense as the forward cut into the box. The defense collapsed on her, and she tapped it back toward the spot where Allie Ross finished with a shot in the upper left corner to make it 2-0 ‘Hoos.

The third goal came in the 75th minute off the foot of Maya Carter. Laughlin Ryan started the play near the top right corner of the box, splitting defenders with a pass ahead to Cagle. The junior picked up the ball near the edge of the six with a touch to settle it and sent it in to Carter who finished near the middle of the six.

“It was our most consistent 90 minutes we’ve played all year,” Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. “I’m proud of the team because it’s not been an easy stretch for us and we had a little history made on that side of things. There are a lot of lessons we’ve learned, and I think it will help us. Now we’re trying to maximize our games. As good as this win is, we have to get ready for SMU on Sunday and take advantage of our home field.”

Up next: Virginia continues to play at home on Sunday when the Cavaliers host SMU. Kick is set for 1 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium.