Syracuse (3-13, 0-8 Atlantic Coast) didn’t record a shot against No. 6 Virginia (13-2, 6-2) Thursday night in Charlottesville, Virginia. The 4-0 loss extends the Orange’s losing streak to 11 games, leaving SU winless in conference play this season.

Against Notre Dame on Oct. 13, the Orange played 10 back on defense, leaving Georgia Allen as its only forward in its 5-1 loss. On Thursday, Syracuse opened the first half playing with all 11 of its players back.

When the Cavaliers passed midfield, SU’s forwards dropped deep, sometimes with every player within 25 yards of the net. And for the first 25 minutes, it worked. Jordan Harris commanded the net, Syracuse didn’t push forward and it outnumbered UVA in the box, limiting its chances.

But in the 26th minute, Virginia’s highest-scoring offense in the ACC broke through off the left foot of freshman Alexa Spaanstra. SU’s Shannon Aviza tried to clear a cross but slid the ball in front of Spaanstra who capitalized on goalkeeper Jordan Harris’ positioning. The freshman recorded her fifth straight game with a point and third straight with a goal.

Syracuse didn’t record a shot in the first half, playing strictly defensive. And while it allowed 17 shots and 7 corners from UVA in the first half, the first 45 minutes of play was SU’s lowest scoring defensive half in its last four games.

The Orange’s best chance at a shot on the night came in the 65th minute when Laurel Ness took a free kick five yards off the left side of the box. Ness passed the ball to an open Allen who hit the ball wide left. Harris was still tested, and after she kicked two goal kicks short, defender Taylor Bennett took Syracuse’s goal kicks instead of the graduate-transfer.

In the 70th minute, The Cavaliers took advantage of their 13th corner kick of the game when Spaanstra headed the ball over a jumping Harris to make it 2-0. A Kate Donovan handball led to a successful penalty kick from UVA’s Ayan Adu. And with 5 minutes left, Virginia piled on with a Sam Rosette goal, the 15th player on the Cavaliers with a goal this season.

Despite being down 4-0, the Orange still kept all of its 11 players back, trying to avoid a bigger deficit in the final minutes.

The Orange will look to end their losing streak against Wake Forest on Sunday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Published on October 18, 2018 at 9:11 pm

Contact KJ: kjedelma@syr.edu | @KJEdelman