Box Score (PDF)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia used three goals in the second half to break open a one goal game and top the men's soccer team, 4-0, on Tuesday night in Charlottesville.
The first half saw the Big Red defense shut down the Cavaliers in the run of play with some good positioning and solid individual efforts.
Freshman goalkeeper Ryan Shellow faced six shots in the first half but answered the call each time, making several nice saves. Nick Corriveau floated a ball towards the edge of the six yard line that found Sheldon Sullivan's foot but Shellow was there to challenge the shot. Five minutes later, when Pablo Aguilar cut his way inside the box and took a deflected shot, Shellow was once again in the right position to make the save. Jean-Christophe Coffi took a hard, one-time volley from 25 yards out but Shallow again tracked the ball and was there to bring it into his chest for the save.
The defense in front of Shellow did its part, too. Freshman Austin Ashley made a sliding clearance on a dangerous cross into the box in the second minute, and a few minutes later junior Spencer Kopko headed away a dangerous cross as a few Virginia players waited for it on the other side of the box.
The Cavaliers (4-2-2) were awarded a penalty kick in the 34th minute and Paddy Foss converted to break the deadlock.
Throughout the game, Cornell (0-7-2) answered each Cavalier punch and generated some pretty chances throughout the first half - with Duff Bedrosian curling in a perfect cross from 35 yards out that George Pedlow couldn't quite connect with and Cameron Taylor sprinting and diving for the header, only to see it go over the crossbar - but it couldn't generate sustained pressure.
Cornell had the first scoring chance of the second half, as Pedlow nearly tied the game in the 65th minute when he fought his way into the box on the left and fired a close-range shot but Jeff Caldwell made the point-blank save to preserve the lead. Caldwell finished with two saves.
Virginia made it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Wesley Wade carried the ball into the box and used some fancy footwork to make some space and curl a shot around the defenders and into the top left corner.
Despite the two goal deficit, Cornell still kept the pressure on the Virginia backline. Pedlow nearly pulled one back in the 70th minute when senior Zach Bialik whipped in a dangerous cross but the freshman's header pushed wide.
Virginia made it 3-0 in the 77th minute when a cross deflected off of a Cornell leg for the own goal and then added a fourth goal in the 80th minute when Sergi Nus took advantage of a free kick from 20 yards out and curled it around the wall.
Shellow finished with fives saves and Virginia had 11 shots to Cornell's five.
The Big Red returns to Berman Field on Sunday at 4 p.m. when it opens Ivy League play against Penn.
