Orange's Attack Silenced in Setback Against No. 6 Virginia

Thursday, October 18

Charlottesville, VA

7 pm

Syracuse University

3-13-0, 0-8-0ACC

Virginia

13-2-0, 6-2-0ACC

Syracuse

Virginia

Orange's Attack Silenced in Setback Against No. 6 Virginia

10/18/2018 9:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Orange fought mightily against one of the top teams in the nation but could not generate an offensive attack when needed, failing to score at least one goal for the first time in three matches in a 4-0 setback against No. 6 Virginia Thursday night.

The Syracuse women's soccer team is now 3-13 overall and 0-8 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play.

"Virginia is a tough team to play against, and it's a tough place to play," head coach Phil Wheddon said. "They're a team that's dynamic with the ball and due to our personnel issues, we had to change our approach to the game. At 2-0, I still felt we might get a goal on a counter. The players did everything they could."

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
Playing short-handed and without junior forward Sydney Brackett, Syracuse was strong defensively through the first 25 minutes of play, fighting off a steady Virginia attack to keep the match deadlocked at 0-0.

The Cavaliers broke through in the 26th minute, however, when Alexa Spaanstra snuck one by Syracuse redshirt senior goalkeeper Jordan Harris, giving Virginia a 1-0 advantage. The Orange defense held off further Virginia scoring opportunities, as Syracuse would enter the half trailing by one goal.

The Syracuse defense did more of the same through the first 25 minutes of the second half, stepping up and limiting Virginia's offensive threats. The Orange trailed by one with 20 minutes left when Spaanstra found the back of the net for her second goal of the match in the 70th minute.

Virginia would add two more goals in the final 10 minutes of action to win 4-0.

OF NOTE
Syracuse was shutout for the first time in three matches. Entering Thursday night, Syracuse had scored goals in three consecutive matches. The Orange scored three times against the Wolfpack, once against UNC (Oct. 7) and once more against Notre Dame (Oct. 13).

Harris played all 90 minutes in goal and recorded a match-high five saves. She has at least five saves in four of her last six starts.

HEAR MORE FROM COACH WHEDDON
"We knew what we were up against. We asked our players to play a certain way, and they did. At the end of the day, they can walk off the field and be proud of the way they played despite the result."

"Virginia's No. 6 in the nation for a reason. Tactically, I thought our players executed the gameplan almost perfectly. It comes down to small moments, and in the last 10 minutes tonight, those small moments end up costing you."

"With our injuries, everyone is stepping up. Everyone is fighting to make the team proud, make themselves proud and to make the university proud. Everyone is doing everything they can in a very, very difficult conference against the best teams in the country. I'm really proud of the effort, the attitude and the fight that this team is showing."

WHAT LIES AHEAD
The Orange complete their final road trip of the season at Wake Forest, now traveling to Winston-Salem, N.C. for a 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21 showdown.

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