No. 15 Virginia gave its Senior Day crowd at Klöckner Stadium plenty to cheer about on Saturday night, rolling past Syracuse 4-0 behind a fast start, a late burst, and a two-goal outburst from Jordyn Hardeman.
The Cavaliers struck first in the ninth minute when Gio Canali finished off a corner from Ella Carter with a header from the middle of the six. From there, Virginia controlled the night and kept Syracuse from ever finding a foothold.
The Hoos’ second goal didn’t arrive until the 80th minute, but once it did, the floodgates opened. Addison Halpern jumped a pass near midfield and pushed Virginia into transition, then slipped the ball ahead to Aniyah Collier on the left side. Collier took it in stride and fired from the corner of the six to make it 2-0.
Just four minutes later, Hardeman added her first of the night with a left-footed strike in the 84th minute. Then she capped her first career brace a minute later, burying a penalty kick after a Syracuse hand ball to finish off the 4-0 win.
Virginia finished the night at 6-2-2 overall and 2-2-0 in ACC play, while Syracuse dropped to 4-6-2 and 1-4-0 in the league.
Canali’s goal was her third of the season and her first since returning from the U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Halpern’s assist kept her involved in a goal in 8-of-10 matches played this season.
Collier has now scored three times on the year, with two of those coming in ACC play. Hardeman’s brace was the first of her career, and she needed less than two minutes to do it.
Afterward, head coach Steve Swanson pointed to both the early chances and Canali’s return to form.
“We had a chance to really break it open in the first 10 minutes, but it was great to see Gio get her goal. I don’t think people appreciate how hard it is to go overseas for four weeks and play in a World Cup and come back to reintegrate.
She looked more like herself tonight. She was active tonight and very impactful on both sides of the ball.”
Swanson also spoke about the senior class and the tribute they received on the night.
“They’re an amazing group. It’s hard not to get emotional talking about that group.
You see all the sacrifice in their time here. On one hand it’s hard because it’s in the middle of the season and you have a long way to go, but you want to five them their tribute and let them know how much you appreciate them.
I think that came through from the team and we had fans show them that tonight as well. They’re an amazing group and have been tremendous players, leaders and role models for the University of Virginia.”
Virginia now heads back on the road for a pair of ACC games next week, visiting No. 12 Notre Dame on Thursday, Oct. 8, before playing at SMU on Oct. 11.
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