Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The 16th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers opened the 2009 Nike Invitational with a 3-0 win over the Portland Pilots before 2,122 fans at Merlo Field on Friday night. Virginia’s Tony Tchani scored twice in the first half to put the Pilots in an early hole.
UVA added one more goal after the break to begin the season at 1-0. The Pilots sit at 0-1.
Tchani’s first goal came in impressive fashion in the seventh minute when he gained possession just outside the top left corner of the 18-yard box. Tchani took a couple of touches before cracking a frozen rope into the top right corner of the net from 23 yards out. Portland goalkeeper Austin Guerrero never had a chance as the Cavaliers claimed the 1-0 lead.
Tchani’s second goal came in the 15th minute. This time Tchani fought off the UP defenders as a loose ball was sent high into the air just in front of the Portland goal. The ball then took a bounce before the UVA forward half-volleyed his second strike into the back of the net.
The Cavaliers then made it a three-goal cushion two minutes into the second half. This time Will Bates took possession outside the box before making a run towards the end line. Bates then made a couple of moves towards the middle of the field before finishing inside the near post.
Seven minutes later, UP junior Jarad vanSchaik nearly registered Portland’s first goal of the season. He blasted a shot from the top of the box that UVA keeper Diego Restrepo had some trouble with before corralling it for the save.
“There were a lot of positives to take out of that game,” said UP head coach Bill Irwin. “We played some good football. The guys stuck with it, showed some character and worked hard.”
Virginia finished with an 11-4 advantage in shots and a slim 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
Guerrero made three stops on the night, while Restrepo had just one.
In the first game of the Nike Invitational on Friday, St. Louis scored twice in the first half before holding off Washington for a 2-1 victory.
The invite concludes on Sunday with two more games. Portland will face St. Louis at 2:30 p.m., following the Washington-Virginia match at 12:00 p.m. at Merlo Field.
