Women’s soccer: No. 8 UVA downs NC State 3-1

Freshman Taylor Ziemer (Santa Rosa, Calif.) scored a pair of first half goals to pace the offense on Thursday night as No. 8 UVA (11-3-2, 4-2-2 ACC) picked up a 3-1 win over NC State (9-6-1, 3-4-1 ACC) at Klöckner Stadium.

Ziemer struck twice in the first 15 minutes of play, while Betsy Brandon (Littleton, Colo.) added the insurance goal for the Cavaliers early in the second half.

The Virginia defense shut things down for most of the night, allowing only two shots in the match, though the Wolfpack got on the board as the first half drew to a close with a goal on its first shot of the game.

“We scored some great goals tonight and we got them early, which made a difference for us in both halves,” said Virginia head coach Steve Swanson. “NC State is a good team and much improved. We’re happy to get the win. We’ve improved every game we’ve played this year and hopefully we can gain some momentum from this game.”

Virginia returns to action on Sunday, hosting Boston College at 1 p.m. The Cavaliers will be honoring six senior members of the squad in ceremonies prior to kick, so fans are encouraged to arrive early to help celebrate the careers of the senior class.

The Cavaliers wasted no time getting on the board against NC State, scoring in the fourth minute. Alexis Shaffer (Cary, N.C.) took the ball off a throw in the Wolfpack’s defensive third and dribbled toward the box. She played it through to Ziemer inside the top of the box where the freshman fired it past the keeper inside the near post.

Ziemer struck again in the 14th minute when Brandon took a turnover at the top of the box and tapped it ahead to the freshman. Ziemer struck from 16 yards out to give the Cavaliers the 2-0 lead.

NC State got on the board in the 44th minute when Tziarra King dribbled down the far side of the box before cutting in toward the center. She took the shot from eight yards out near the corner of the six-yard box and slipped it past Stearns.

Virginia led 2-1 at the half.

The Cavaliers again scored quickly to open the second half, striking in the 49th minute to move the home team out to a 3-1 lead. Shaffer sent in the cross from the far sideline to Brandon. The sophomore headed it in from six yards out to extend the Virginia lead.

The defense handled things from there, allowing only one more shot from NC State the rest of the way – that one turned away by goalkeeper Morgan Stearns (San Antonio, Texas) as Virginia picked up the win.