Women’s Soccer: #25 Virginia rallies in second half, downs SMU, 2-1

Virginia rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit, taking the lead for good in the 81st minute on a goal by Meredith McDermott to claim a 2-1 win over SMU on Sunday at Klöckner Stadium.

SMU (6-7-2, 2-4-2 ACC) struck first, scoring on a counter after a Virginia turnover in the attacking third. SMU charged down the field, bringing the ball up the middle before it was played out wide on the left for Sophie King.

King sent the ball in toward the six where it was headed on the run by Nyah Rose toward the near post. It was almost stopped by Virginia keeper Victoria Safradin, but she couldn’t get enough of a handle on it to keep it out of the net.

Virginia (10-4-0, 3-4-0 ACC) evened things up in the 49th minute on a strike from Lia Godfrey. The Cavaliers worked the ball down the left side of the box, where Maggie Cagle beat her defender one-on-one to create space for herself. Cagle played a ball back toward the penalty spot, where Godfrey struck it on the run, slipping the ball in back toward the left post.

The Cavaliers took the lead in the 81st minute off the foot of McDermott. Virginia started its attack down the right side of the field again with Cagle breaking down her defender and getting free for a service into the six. McDermott was waiting and redirected with the touch at the near post and sent it in across goal for the go-ahead score.

“It was a good second half to get those two goals,” UVA coach Steve Swanson said. “It was disappointing to be in that position, but I think overall we really needed the three points – especially since this game was at home. Our crowd really made a difference. There’s not one player, one coach or anyone in our program that doesn’t appreciate the fans who come out to watch us. That’s the biggest thing we’ll take away from this game, was that we got the result, but our crowd was a big part of this. Thanks to them.”