The Irish traveled to the University of Virginia yesterday to take on the No. 13 Cavaliers.
The first half started well for the Irish. The Cavaliers (7-3-3, 2-1-2 ACC) fired eight shots but were only able to find the target with one of them. The Irish (6-4-3, 2-2-1) had chances as well and were able to bury one off a strong individual effort from graduate student midfielder Sandra Yu. Yu was able to collect the ball outside the 18-yard box and make a run inside the six-yard box, firing a high shot past the outstretched goalkeeper into the back of the net.
The Irish got solid effort from the backline in the first half. Led by senior Monica Flores, the Irish backline was able to defend well and generate some offensive chances.
Virginia was awarded a critical free kick in the fifty-eighth minute, but it sailed wide of senior goalkeeper Lexi Nicholas. Virginia senior forward Veronica Latsko tipped home a cross at the 60th minute to even the score. The Cavaliers put together a solid stretch at the end of regulation with some threatening corner kicks, but regulation ended scoreless, triggering two 10-minute periods of overtime. Overtime went back and forth, but ultimately neither team could break through. The Irish possessed the ball for a good portion of the second overtime, but had a difficult time advancing the ball into the box. Solid defensive play kept the Cavaliers out of the Irish end, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
On Sunday, the Irish will play host to Syracuse. The Orange (6-4-2, 1-2-1) are 1-2-1 in ACC play, but are strong defensively, able to keep the ball out of their net. Other than a 7-0 loss at the hands of North Carolina, the Orange have only conceded one goal to an ACC opponent. On the other hand, the Orange have only scored in one ACC matchup — their most recent one, a 2-0 win over Pitt.
The Irish will take on Syracuse on Sunday at Alumni Stadium at 1 p.m.
