AUSTIN, Texas - A goal by Virginia's Molly Menchel at 19:22 provided the difference as the 10th-ranked Cavaliers topped Texas 3-0 on Friday evening inside Mike A. Myers Stadium and Soccer Field. Makenzy Doniak and Caroline Miller each scored in the second half to give UVa the insurance.

It was the Longhorns' first contest against a ranked foe this season and the squad started the game with nine underclassmen in the lineup.

UT applied pressure early in the Virginia end as sophomore Sharis Lachappelle fired the first shot just 2:53 into the match. Freshman Lindsey Meyer followed with a strike nearly four minutes later, but Virginia goalkeeper Danielle DeLisle came up with the save.

Senior Hannah Higgins had the best opportunity in the early going as a pass from sophomore Cierra Grubbs set her up in the box, but her shot went just wide left. Virginia's Miller responded with a shot at 17:54, but it missed wide right. The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead as Menchel fired from just outside the 18-yard box and slotted the ball into the upper right corner past a diving Texas goalkeeper Ava Vogel. Virginia's Kate Norbo was credited with the assist on the play.

At the 29:12 and 38:59 marks, UVA nearly made it a 2-0 lead. In the first attempt, Doniak broke in on Vogel, but she made the save diving to her left. In the latter try, Emily Sonnett's shot bounced off the left post and did not cross the goal line.

The Longhorns took the final shot of the half as sophomore Allison Smith's attempt with 10 seconds remaining in the period was blocked.

At the start of the second half, Texas pressured early with shots by freshman Chantale Campbell and Higgins, but neither got past Cavalier goalkeeper Churchill O'Connell.

Vogel made two more saves within the first 20 minutes of the second half en route to recording a career-high eight.

The Cavaliers made it a three-goal advantage in the second half as Doniak scored unassisted at the 67:37 mark. Doniak shot from the near right side and powered the ball past Vogel and into the upper left corner of the net. Five minutes later, Miller converted a Brittany Ratcliffe pass into the third score of the contest.

UT managed five more shots in the game, but O'Connell was up to the challenge every time.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Men's NCAA Tournament First Round Recap

TeamRank Presented By TeamSnap - Boys

Midwest High School Roundup - Nov.