Women’s soccer: Doniak pushes No. 1 Virginia to 7-1 victory at NC State

Senior Makenzy Doniak had a record performance for the Cavaliers on Wednesday night, scoring four first-half goals to lift No. 1 Virginia (14-1-1, 8-1-0 ACC) to a 6-1 victory over NC State (4-14-0, 0-9-0 ACC). It is the first time in program history a player has scored four goals in a game.

The performance set the tone for the match as Virginia got seven goals from four different players, including the first career goals from both Annaugh Madsen (Annandale, Va.) and Christiana Sullivan (Houston, Texas).

Virginia struck in the first minute of play off a set play. Alexis Shaffer (Cary, N.C.) sent a corner into the box where it was headed toward the goal my Meghan Cox (Springfield, Va.) and then sent into the net by Doniak to put the Cavaliers up 1-0.

Doniak struck again in the eighth minute, coming up with a loose ball in the box and putting it on frame to give the Cavaliers the 2-0 lead on the Wolfpack.

The third Doniak goal of the afternoon came in the 33rd minute when Brittany Ratcliffe (Williamstown, N.J.) played the ball out wide on the far side of the field to Cox. Cox sent the service into the box where Doniak put a head on it by the near post and into the goal for the 3-0 lead.

The single-game record fourth goal from Doniak came in the 41st minute when the Cavaliers again got loose deep down the far side of the field. Freshman Ayan Adu (Ashburn, Va.) sent a hard cross into the box where Doniak got a foot on it and sent it in past the keeper. Virginia led 4-0 at the half.

NC State got on the board in the 59th minute when Taylor Porter bent in a distance strike from 30 yards out to cut the lead to 4-1. The Wolfpack would get no closer.

The Cavaliers had an answer, taking the lead back out to four goals in the 63rd minute. Veronica Latsko (Venetia, Pa.) sent the ball in to the top of the box for Morgan Reuther (Chantilly, Va.) who turned and rocketed a shot into the net for a 5-1 Virginia lead.

Madsen scored her first collegiate goal in the 74th minute, taking a pass from her fellow freshman in Sullivan. The duo combined for the first career points as Virginia extended its lead on the Wolfpack. Sullivan then added her first career goal in the 85th minute as the lead moved out to six goals.

That would mark the final margin of victory as Virginia picked up the 7-1 win over the Wolfpack.

The Cavaliers will close out the regular season on the road, traveling to face Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. Fans can follow the action online at VirginiaSports.com.