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Virginia tops A&M, makes first College Cup final


Virginia is headed to the Women’s College Cup final for the first time in school history after defeating Texas A&m, 3-1 on Friday at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.

Makenzy Doniak scored her 20th goal of the season — tying a Virginia school record — to open the scoring in the 13th minute and defender Emily Sonnett scored the eventual game-winner a minute before halftime for the Cavaliers. Sonnett was unmarked on a corner kick, heading in the ball after Aggies goalkeeper Jordan Day got a hand to the initial shot.

“She’s going to start playing the striker position from now on,” Virginia coach Steve Swanson jokingly said of Sonnett. “I said this the other day and I’ll say it again, to me she is different than what you see as a defender because of all the things she can do going forward.”

Emily Sonnett celebrates her game-winning goal for Virginia. (Photo Copyright Steve Bruno for The Equalizer)

Emily Sonnett celebrates her game-winning goal for Virginia. (Photo Copyright Steve Bruno for The Equalizer)

Kelley Monogue scored the lone goal for Texas A&M, pulling the Aggies even for all of 12 minutes before Sonnett’s go-ahead goal. Texas A&M was appearing in the College Cup for the first time, having also secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for the first time.

With A&M pressing for an equalizer, Virginia sophomore Alexis Shaffer pounced on an Aggies turnover to beat Day in the 87th minute and seal the game for Virginia. This is only Virginia’s third time in the College Cup. Last year, the Cavs lost in the semifinal to eventual champion UCLA.

Virginia will either play Stanford or Florida State in Sunday’s final (1 p.m. ET on ESPNU). Virginia’s only two losses this season are to Florida State.

For Monogue and seven other seniors, their time at A&M as the best class yet is over.

“I’m just excited for the next part of my career and I’m so happy to have played here and in a great program and I can’t wait to see what they do next,” she said.

A&M coach G Guerreiri lauded his outgoing senior class.

“I personally love them and this is a class that really made and impact from the first day they stepped on campus,” he said. “They are a lot of fun to be around. I think that they have helped to propel our name and our brand with what Texas A&M soccer plays like. We have always wanted to be a strong attacking team, with gritty defenders and people that represent Texas A&M well on the field, in the classroom and the community. They have done that”

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