Courtesy: Matt Riley / UVa Media Relations Kelly Quinn
CHARLOTTESVILLE – The No. 7 Virginia women’s soccer team opened up its 2008 season with a 4-0 victory over Loyola (Md.) Friday night at Klöckner Stadium. Kelly Quinn (Dublin, Ohio) had her first multi-goal game of her career, scoring twice to lead the Cavaliers to their ninth consecutive season opening win.
“This was a good result for us,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “Coming into the first game of the season, you are always a little concerned. We knew that Loyola had a good team with a lot of returning players and having played here in the NCAA Tournament last year that they wouldn’t be intimidated by the environment. We controlled the game early but it took us a while to get the first goal. The second one, with 16 seconds left in the half, was big because it gave us a little bit of a cushion.”
The Cavaliers took control of the game from the start but the Loyola defense held them off the scoreboard until the 37th minute. Alex Singer (Rye, N.Y.) sent a ball forward that Meghan Lenczyk (McLean, Va.) flicked on into the run of Quinn, who slotted a shot inside the far post. In the final minute of the first half Quinn struck again, as Amanda Stewart’s (West Chester, Pa.) corner kick was head across the goal mouth by Alli Fries (Dublin, Ohio) to Quinn, who blasted in the shot to double the Cavalier lead just 16 seconds before intermission.
Virginia continued to pressure the Greyhounds in the second half and added a pair of later goals. In the 84th minute, Lauren Alwine’s (Elizabethtown, Pa.) cross was played by Sarah Senty (Arlington, Va.) in the box to Lindsey Miller (Nashua, N.H.), who one-timed a shot for her first career goal. Two minutes later, Nikki Krzysik’s (Clifton, N.J.) long ball over the top sent Maggie Kistner (St. Louis, Mo.) in on a breakaway. Kistner was taken down in the box and Krzysik converted the ensuing penalty kick.
“It would have been nice to get the third goal and little bit earlier,” said Swanson. “That way we could have gotten some players some more minutes and gotten a few more into the game. We know get another week of practice before our next game to continue to improve and experiment with our lineup and roles.”
Overall the Cavaliers outshot the Greyhounds 26-1 and had a 11-0 corner kick advantage. Celeste Miles (Garland, Texas) made her first career start in goal and posted the shutout, while Brittany Henderson had 10 saves in goal for Loyola.
The Cavaliers return to action next Friday when they host Liberty at 6 p.m. The game is the first part of a soccer doubleheader with the Cavalier men hosting St. John’s at 8 p.m.
GAME NOTES: The Cavaliers are 9-0-0 in season openers under Steve Swanson, outscoring their opponents 38-0 in those games ... Krzysik’s penalty kick was Virginia’s first PK attempt since the 2005 season, a span of 47 games ... Virginia extended its home unbeaten streak to 14 games (12-0-2) ... Miller (goal) and Alwine (assist) both recorded their first collegiate point ... Alwine, Kistner, and Amanda Fancher all made their collegiate debuts.
Full Scoreboard
Courtesy: Matt Riley / UVa Media Relations
