Women’s soccer: No. 7 UVA picks up 2-1 road win at Louisville

The No. 7 UVA (13-3-2, 6-2-2 ACC) women’s soccer team closed out the regular season with a win, going on the road and defeating Louisville (7-7-4, 2-5-3 ACC) by a score of 2-1 on Thursday night at Lynn Stadium.

The Cavaliers got goals from senior midfielder Alexis Shaffer (Cary, N.C.) and junior forward Veronica Latsko (Venetia, Pa.) on the way to the win. Latsko’s insurance goal in the second half proved to be the game-winner as Louisville would score late in the second half.

“It was a hard-fought match,” said Virginia head coach Steve Swanson. “Louisville played very well and competed very hard. It’s what you expect in the ACC and it’s not easy to get a win on the road. We did enough to get the win. Our second goal was very good. We did some good things, but we’re still looking for that consistency you need at this time of year. That’s our goal. But, we managed to pick up a win on the road and that’s a good thing.”

The Cavaliers will return to action on Sunday (Oct. 30) as the ACC Tournament opens with quarterfinal matches played at the campuses of the top four seeds in the final standings. Virginia will be the five seed and travel to face fourth-seeded North Carolina at 1 p.m.

Virginia got on the board in the 33rd minute when Shaffer converted a penalty kick. A handball was called as Louisville attempted to clear a corner by the Cavaliers, setting up the penalty kick for the senior midfielder.

The Cavaliers held a 4-to-2 edge in shots at the half, with the lone goal coming on the penalty kick. Morgan Stearns posted saves on both shots by the Cardinals, turning away the attacks of the home team in the waning minutes of the first half.

Virginia struck for the second time in the 54th minute as Latsko hit her eighth goal of the season. Allisa Gorzak (Naperville, Ill.) dribbled down the near side of the penalty box and sent a cross into the middle. A leaping Latsko got her head on it and launched it past the keeper into the upper left corner of the goal for the 2-0 lead.

Louisville got on the board in the 68th minute of play when Allison Price knocked a service from Kaela Dickerman on frame. A Cavalier defender looked to clear the shot attempt, but the ball was ruled to have crossed the line before the defender got to the ball, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Virginia finished the match with nine shots, four on goal, while the Cardinals took six shots with five of them on goal. Senior goalkeeper Morgan Stearns (San Antonio, Texas) posted four saves on the night, including her two big saves in the closing moments of the first half to keep Virginia in the lead at the break.