In a not-so-meaningful game, Virginia men’s soccer earned a victory over a perennial Mary Washington team ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III. The Cavaliers (8-5-3, 3-3-2 ACC) ended the season on a high note at Kleckner Stadium with a 4-2 victory over the Eagles (15-1), making it their second season of the season. tied for the highest total score. 1-1), suffering their first loss of the season.
Early in the game, Virginia played as calmly as an autumn breeze blowing through Kleckner. Keeping nearly the same starting lineup as the previous game, with senior defender Austin Rome starting in place of junior defender Parker Sloan, the Cavaliers faced an early start against a physical Eagles team that wanted to make its presence felt. I was anxious to get back on track. The visiting team faced a Division I opponent for the first time since 2021, losing 2-1 to Virginia.
A self-inflicted wound by Mary Washington proved fatal in the first half, with the Eagles scoring an own goal after a missed backpass between goaltender and defender. Accidents continued after that, and Eagle’s header failed in the 37th minute, almost reaching the top of the goal, but hitting the crossbar.
Once the Cavaliers smelled blood, all they thought about was scoring. However, they were dealt a blow in the 37th minute when graduate midfielder Daniil Managalov went down with a minor injury and was forced to come off the bench.
A minute later, sophomore forward Cesar Cordova replaced Managalov and immediately made an impact on the game. He picked up the ball from a throw-in by senior defender Paul Wiese, and Wiese set up freshman forward Joaquin Brizuela to send a hot header into the net. Wiese and Cordova both had assists.
After the Cavaliers’ second goal, Katy Perry’s “Fireworks” played over the stadium’s speakers, and three minutes later, a perfect dribble from Cordoba penetrated the thick of the Mary Washington defense and another great goal from Brizuela. One was born and summed up the moment at the end of the first half. . This put Virginia up 3-0 going into halftime.
Coach George Gernovatch didn’t hesitate to bring in a ton of starters early in the second half, and Mary Washington dominated Virginia with goals in the 52nd and 72nd minutes. The second goal was scored on a penalty kick by Mary Washington graduate defender Jared DuBose after a foul on junior midfielder Humberto Pera.
The Eagles quickly earned the respect of Virginia fans, but the stadium went silent and their three-goal lead was reduced to just one point. Gernobach presented Mary Washington with flowers after the game.
“They’re a Division I-equivalent team,” Gernovatch said. “There’s a reason they’re a top school in Division III. I have a lot of confidence in them.”
Having most of the starting lineup back in the game was able to put pressure on the Eagle defense, with sophomore midfielder Brendan Lambe netting an easy penalty after a foul in the Mary Washington box. He hit the ball hard and ensured the Cavalier’s victory.
Although it was the final game of the regular season, it was a game with a lead. Brizuela scored his first two goals, Lambe scored his first goal, and Cordoba had his first two assists. The purpose of this game was accomplished as the Cavaliers gained momentum heading into the ACC Tournament.
“This was a really important game considering the fact that we lost against Pitt,” Brizuela said. “It really helps us get confident and feel good heading into the next playoff game.”
Virginia waits for its fate now that it can no longer decide its own seeding for the ACC Tournament. The Cavaliers, currently in seventh place in the conference, need two losses in Friday’s final games to stay in the top eight and host a first-round game: Notre Dame, North Carolina State and Southern Methodist.
Those games will be played Friday, and the Cavaliers will learn their fate and play in an open tournament on Nov. 6.
