Cavaliers maintain tournament hopes

It had been quite a long time since the Virginia women’s soccer team played a regular-season game with so much at stake. On Friday night at Klockner Stadium, the Cavaliers were essentially playing for their post-season lives when they took on No. 4 Florida State.

In a well-played, nip-and-tuck game, Virginia rose to the challenge and came through with one of its most clutch performances in recent memory.

UVa, thanks to a beautiful goal by Sinead Farrelly just before halftime and a huge save by goalie Chantel Jones late in the contest, upset the Seminoles 1-0 in front of a crowd of 809.

“”You know, we’ve won big games, but none bigger in the situation that we were in,” said Virginia coach Steve Swanson. “I think going into this game, we really knew that we had to win it.

“Given the circumstances, this was very clutch for our team.”

The win over FSU (13-3-1, 6-2-1) was Virginia’s first over a top-5 team since 2003 when it beat Santa Clara at Klockner. The victory, coupled with Miami’s loss at Virginia Tech, means UVa (8-5-4, 3-4-2) must either win or tie against Miami on Sunday to qualify for the ACC tournament. Conversely, the Hurricanes must beat Virginia to make the tournament.

Against FSU, Virginia got what turned out to be the game-winner just before the half. In the 44th minute, Farrelly trapped a loose ball off a corner kick and blasted a shot into the upper-right corner of the net.

“I was wide open,” Farrelly said. “I had time to take a touch and volleyed it in.”

In the 77th minute, FSU forward Tiffany McCarty, after chasing down a through ball, got behind the Virginia defense and was one-on-one with goalie Chantel Jones. Jones ranged far out of the net and made a diving stop of a low liner to keep the Cavaliers in the lead.

“There really wasn’t an angle for me,” Jones said. “I just tried to get as close as I could and stay big so that I could intimidate her — and it worked, thank goodness.”

Just a few seconds later, Jones stopped a long free kick by FSU midfielder Becky Edwards.

In the 85th minute, Virginia had a great shot at an insurance goal. Jess Rostedt took a pass from Lauren Alwine on a pretty give-and-go play. All alone in the box, Rostedt fired a shot right at FSU goalie Erin McNulty that was easily stopped.

FSU’s struggles against Virginia continued. UVa is the only school the Seminoles have never beaten. FSU is now winless in 18 tries.

“We knew we needed to go out and got the job done, but it’s only half the deal,” Farrelly said. “We have to win on Sunday. We have to get the result Sunday or else this wasn’t worth anything.”

“It’s a relief,” Jones added. “But we still have to go out and give it to Miami because they’re a good team.”

While clearly very pleased with his team’s performance, Swanson won’t beat satisfied until the Wahoos have actually clinched a spot in the tournament — something they have done in every one of his previous eight seasons.

“I think we have to be careful,” Swanson said. “We haven’t won anything yet. It’s just one game.

“But I think it sets us up. We wanted to be in this position on Sunday. We’re confident because we’re at home, but Miami is a very good team that will also have a lot to play for. They’re going to be extremely motivated. We need to rest and recover, and get ready.”