Virginia Women's Soccer Beats Radford in 2nd-Consecutive 5-0 Win

Radford is a strong team, having won the Big South Conference last year and advancing to the NCAA tournament. The Highlanders opened their season on a high note, pasting Emory & Henry by a 4-0 score line. Most of the women were able to turn on the ball and they were physically tough. Highlander Elyse Beaudry waged an entertaining battle with Maggie Cagle all night long.

Unfortunately for Radford, the game ended very quickly. In the game’s first minute, Yuna McCormack, who played much more brightly and maybe shook off some of her first night jitters, fed Cagle in the box. Cagle had her player defeated and was about to shoot when she was tripped. Cagle took the penalty well, and just 45 seconds into the game, Radford was trailing 1-0.

Virginia head coach Steve Swanson made two changes to his starting lineup. Chloe Japic started at right back for the injured Laney Rouse, and somewhat surprisingly, Brianna Jablonowski started at right midfield for Jill Flammia who was apparently absent on the day. It was Brianna’s first run in the midfield and she was energetic and had maybe her best shift as a Cavalier. Maybe this shouldn’t be surprising since Jablonowski is a runner. I don’t mean this as a pejorative, every team needs them, but playing midfield might play to Brianna’s strengths.

10 minutes later, Meredith McDermott found Cagle on the left of the box. Cagle turned her defender and hit a lovely sweeping shot past the Highlander keeper and it was 2-0.

The game was always going to be a tune up for the Hoos, but it serves a purpose for Radford as well; to pit themselves against the very best they can in preparation for their campaign to repeat as Big South champs. Radford did not hunker down in the low block and they tried to possess the ball. Virginia’s response was to build more through the midfield, something they did not do versus Nevada. Lacey McCormack and Alexis Theoret had more time on the ball and McCormack, bringing the ball out of the back, was more decisive with her play. She delivered the third goal at the 22 minute mark. 30 yards from the goal, she tried to cross it into the penalty spot. She drilled the ball into a defender. The rebound was fed right back to her, and on her second attempt she found Sarah Brunner on the back post. Brunner looped a header over the keeper and Virginia was completely in charge.

Great find by Lacey McCormack and great finish by Sarah Brunner!#GoHoos | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/tXqb0R0uCT
— Virginia Women's Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) August 20, 2023

The second half saw the introduction of Laughlin Ryan at midfield. Ryan is going to be the feel-good story of the year and she’s getting her first playing time at Virginia. She’s a senior, but has been recovering from a serious injury the past two years, She had a nice hockey-assist on the fourth goal. Ryan found Cagle in space at the top of the box, who in turn laid it off for Yuna McCormack. Yuna took one step, turned to get the ball on her right foot, and buried her first collegiate goal. McCormack has big shoes to fill – Lia Godfrey’s to be precise – but she was more effective today. The talent is there, and I’ve liked her off-ball runs, but we’ll have to wait for the start of the ACC slate to see if she can be a game changer for the Cavaliers.

Maya Carter got on the score sheet by not giving up on an Aniyah Collier cross late in the game. Virginia has been blessed by a string on strong central forwards over the years. The latest iterations of Meg McCool, Diana Ordonez and Haley Hopkins all produced 15-goal seasons. I don’t know if Carter or McDermott are there yet. Swanson has mentioned after both of these games that the team, acknowledging the departures of Hopkins, Alexa Spaanstra and Rebecca Jarrett, will have to create goals from all over. So far that is happening, albeit against weaker competition. Before the end of the month, the team will face off against Michigan and West Virginia, which should prove a sterner test for “McCarter.” The success those two have will go a long way to determining whether Virginia can realistically aspire to play in the College Cup.

Player Notes: Stanford transfer Kathryn Kelly and first-year Ella Carter are both comfortable on the ball and have nifty footwork. In Kelly’s case, the loss of Rouse means that there are a lot of minutes available. Today Chloe Japic filled in on the right as starter. She is very left footed and she’s looked more comfortable on the right as either winger or midfielder than defender. I bet Kelly will get a look on the right sometime this season.

Camryn Miller got her time on the field coming in after halftime to relieve keeper Cayla White. Swanson’s second-string keepers usually get a game or two a year. Based on high school reputation alone I thought that might be Victoria Safradin who was the top-ranked scholastic keeper last year. And who got the traditional #1 jersey. (White wears #0.) Miller wasn’t challenged at all so it’s hard to know what she brings to the table. It is hard to get three keepers playing time, though.

Next Up: Virginia hosts Michigan on Thursday, August 24th. Game time is 8:15pm. It’s so late because the men host Iona earlier in the evening in a great men’s and women’s soccer double-header at Klockner Stadium.

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