Virginia men defeat Howard

CHARLOTTESVILLE  – No. 12 Virginia shut out Howard, 2-0, Tuesday night at Klöckner Stadium. Will Bates (Chester, Va.) and Tony Tchani (Norfolk, Va.) scored goals for the Cavaliers, who improved to 9-3-1 on the year and remained unbeaten this season against non-conference foes (7-0-1).
 
Diego Restrepo (West Palm Beach, Fla.) posted the shutout in goal for UVa, his fifth of the year.
 
After a perfectly played through ball from Shawn Barry (Miramar, Fla.) to Ross LaBauex (Chicago, Ill.), LaBauex cross the ball into the penalty box from the right side. Bates headed it into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the year in the 16th minute.
 
Bates has scored in three-straight games for the Cavaliers, dating back to the Oct. 13 match vs. Liberty.
 
The Cavaliers maintained their 1-0 lead into the second half, when Tchani gathered a pass from Bates in Howard’s defensive end in the 55th minute and had goalkeeper Victor Thomas to beat. Tchani fired a shot from 18 yards out to the near post for his fourth goal of the year that gave Virginia a 2-0 lead. It was Bates’ first assist of the year.
 
Virginia out-shot Howard, 20-4, and held a 12-2 advantage in corner kicks. With the loss, Howard’s record went to 2-10-2 on the year.
 
In goal for the Bison, Victor Thomas had five saves in defeat. Restrepo, meanwhile, finished with one save.
 
Next up for the Cavaliers is a Sunday (Oct. 25) ACC match against Boston College. Kick-off from Klöckner Stadium is scheduled 1 p.m.