UVa blanks Clemson

Last season, the Virginia women’s soccer team put a hurting on Clemson and former UVa assistant coach Hershey Strosburg when it traveled down south. The Cavaliers pummeled the Tigers with a season-high seven goals en route to a blowout win.

Things didn’t come quite as easily for Virginia on Sunday afternoon at Klockner Stadium against Clemson, but in the end, the game provided a much-needed dose of success.

No. 14 UVa, behind a well-balanced scoring attack, atoned for a poor loss to N.C. State on Thursday night with a 3-0 win over Strosberg’s crew.

“That was a tough result for us,” said Swanson, referring to Thursday’s loss. “I think that was a difficult one for everyone to absorb.

“But I thought the team did a good job of rebounding. I think this was a very important game and one we really had to get at home. I give a lot of credit to the players. They came out and got the tempo going and got an early goal and did a nice job of putting the game away.”

Virginia (6-2-2, 1-1-0) which evened its mark at 1-1 in the ACC, hadn’t dropped a league opener in six years until its loss in Raleigh on Thursday. Furthermore, UVa hadn’t lost to the Wolfpack since 1995. The Cavaliers outshot State by 17 but had problems finishing in the 2-1 setback.

Against Clemson (3-7-0, 0-2-0), Virginia was slightly better in that area.

“As long as I’ve been doing this, you have some games where you take 10 shots and six go in, and then some games where you take 35 shots and none of them go in,” said Swanson, whose team hosts Virginia Tech on Wednesday night. “The big thing is that I think we do have players who are capable of finishing.”

Virginia, which outshot Clemson by 12 and held an 8-0 edge in corner kicks, got on the board in the eighth minute when Caitlin Miskel headed home a beautiful crossing pass from Sinead Farrelly to beat Tigers goalie Paula Pritzen.

“It was a great cross,” Miskel said. “I just finished it. I’ve had a few of those this year where I’ve gotten unlucky. Hopefully things are starting to come together.”

UVa had several quality chances to increase its lead over the next few minutes, but couldn’t convert until near the end of the half when, in the 38th minute, Jess Rostedt blasted a shot that beat Pritzen to the far post.

In the second half, Virginia took full command when Lauren Alwine got the ball deep in the box, took her time, and perfectly placed a shot over the head of a sprawling Pritzen for a 3-0 lead.

“It’s always great to get an ACC win,” Miskel said. “I think coming away from the N.C. State game, we really had to change out mentality. I think we’re on the right track now. Hopefully this will give us some momentum.”

Virginia goalie Chantel Jones wasn’t tested much – she faced just five shots — but did what she had to in posting her 17th career shutout, second-most in school history.

Strosberg took some solace in playing his former employer tighter than last season.

“This is a very good Virginia team,” Strosberg said. “We knew that coming off of Thursday’s game where they had the better of play and didn’t get the result…

“I wish we had been a little more dangerous.”

Strosberg, in his second year at Clemson after serving under Swanson for six seasons, said it wasn’t strange going against Virginia.

“For me, it’s great because Steve is like a big brother and also a mentor and a friend,” Strosberg said. “I love the fact that I can compete against people who I have a lot of respect for and that are good friends.

“It’s fun to play against people you like and respect. This place was really great to me personally and it’s always fun to come back.”