No. 11 Virginia kept its perfect start intact Sunday at Klöckner Stadium, beating Liberty 2-0 behind a goal and assist from Allie Ross and another score from Addison Halpern.
The result also gave Steve Swanson a milestone night: the Cavaliers’ head coach picked up his 400th win with Virginia.
Halpern got the Hoos on the board in the 18th minute, finishing a sequence that started with Tatum Galvin carrying the ball up from midfield and driving down the left side. Galvin sent the ball to the top of the box for Ross, who settled it and played it over to Halpern. From the penalty arc, Halpern slotted her shot to the left of the keeper.
Virginia had to wait a while to finish the job. A 90-minute weather delay hit early in the second half, and when play resumed the Cavaliers absorbed an early push from the Flames before stretching the lead in the 73rd minute. Liv Rademaker’s shot clanged off the crossbar and dropped back to Ross, who finished from inside the six.
The win moved Virginia to 2-0-0, while Liberty fell to 1-1-0.
Halpern has now scored the opening goal in back-to-back games and has two goals on the season. Sunday’s strike was the first game-winner of her collegiate career.
Ross’ tally was her first of the year and the 17th of her career.
Afterward, Swanson pointed to both the delay and the overall feel of the match.
“That was a long delay between coming off the field and starting up again. Our team handled it pretty well.
Liberty has a good team and we knew it would be a competitive game. We did some good things in stretches, but there is a lot we can learn.
Any time you get a result and can learn things, that’s a good sign. This was a good game for us in terms of regains, but the chances we gave up were self-inflicted and that’s a thing we have to clean up.”
Virginia stays at home Thursday, hosting La Salle at 4 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium. Admission is free, and the game opens a doubleheader with the Virginia men, who will face UCLA at 7 p.m.
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