Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW): This recent stretch of matches for the #25 UVA Women’s Soccer team has not yielded much to be happy about for both the players and the fans.  Fortunately, last night’s Senior Night battle with the NC State Wolfpack bucked the trend and gave the Hoos three points they could be proud of as the season rockets toward its conclusion.   

The joy did not wait long to take hold of the Hoos, as senior defender Laney Rouse, assisted by attacker Maggie Cagle, charged down the pitch right from kickoff, and set up a chance on the volley for Meredith McDermott, who buried the ball into the back of the NC State net for an early 1-0 lead.  Despite the Hoos looking sharp in the attacking third, Olivia Pratapas kept them quiet, making 6 saves in the first half.  But the pressure just kept coming, Pratapas and the NC State defense saw off 17 shots and 5 corners in the first half, and 13 more shots in the second half.  The dam eventually broke in the 72nd minute, Yuma McCormick picked out McDermott on an outlet ball, she then found Allie Ross to make the game 2-0 Hoos.  Three minutes later, another UVA senior notched an assist to help the Hoos win the day, as Laughlin Ryan, with some neat footwork on the right flank of the six, knocked the ball ahead to Cagle, who then found Maya Carter on a run into the middle of the box, and Carter slotted the ball home for the final goal of the game.   

 The win was the Hoos’ 9th of the year and allowed them to keep their spot in the National Top 25.   The program’s honored seven seniors, Emma Dawson, Samar Guidry, Chloe Japic, Moira Kelley, Camryn Miller, Degen Miller and Alexis Theoret, who were recognized before the match, were properly celebrated with a victory that, it’s safe to say, meant more than any fan could ever understand.