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The Cavaliers improve to 13-4-1 overall and finish ACC play with a 6-3-1 record. The Eagles fall to 10-6-3 overall and 4-5-1 in the conference.
"The second half was just a matter of us executing," said head coach Steve Swanson. "In the first half, we weren't completing our passes, the runs weren't great and our decisions weren't great. At halftime we calmed everything down and came out and executed much better. If we had started a little bit sharper, we felt like we could have done that in the first half too. It was a good response by our team, to be down 1-0 to a good opponent like BC and answer like we did shows a lot about the character of our team."
The teams traded chances throughout a wide-open first half, but only Boston College was able to capitalize on a scoring opportunity. Victoria DiMartino tapped in a pass from Stephanie McCaffrey in the 33rd minute to give the Eagles a lead they would take into intermission.
The Cavaliers wasted little time in the second half to draw even, finding the equalizer in the 49th minute. Morgan Stith (Montclair, N.J.) sent a cross to the far post that Danielle Colaprico (Freehold, N.J.) controlled and blasted just under the crossbar for her fourth goal of the season.
Virginia would take even less time to take the lead, scoring again just 58 seconds later. Emily Sonnett (Marietta, Ga.) made a run from the back and got in behind the defense on a give-and-go passing play with Caroline Miller (Rockville, Md.). Sonnett slotted the ball past the charging keeper and into the net for her first career goal.
Miller found the back of the net herself in the 60th minute to extend the advantage to 3-1. She received a ball from Erica Hollenberg (Fairfax Station, Va.) in the midfield, dribbled to the top of the box and fired a shot just inside the far post. It was her 13th goal of the season and her league-leading 10th goal in ACC play. She became the first player in four years to score double-digit goals during the ACC regular season.
In the 73rd minute, Morgan Brian (St. Simons Island, Ga.) made a move in the box, got to the end line and sent a ball across the face of the goal to Molly Menchel (Alexandria, Va.), who tapped in her fourth goal of the season.
Kaili Torres (Fleming Island, Fla.) closed out the scoring in the 87th minute as she scored her fourth goal of the season off a cross from Gloria Douglas (Fayetteville, N.C.).
Prior to the game was a senior night ceremony that honored the four Cavaliers playing their final regular season game at Klöckner Stadium. Hollenberg, Miller, Julia Roberts (Frederick, Md.) and Carrie Wisman (Bristol, Va.) were recognized and all four were in the starting lineup, including Wisman, who made her first career start in goal.
"I don't know if I could have asked for a better senior night," said Miller. "To be down 1-0 at halftime and come out in the second half and play the way we did was amazing. I am not going to lie, I was tearing up before the game. It was my last regular season game at Klöckner and I can't describe how much I love playing here. To come back and win they way we did, it was an incredible night."
The 5-1 win came after a 5-0 win at Virginia Tech on Sunday. The 10 combined goals are the most Virginia has scored in consecutive ACC games since the 2008 season.
"I was really impressed with our seniors," said Swanson. "Carrie Wisman deserved that start tonight and she was magnificent. Caroline, Erica and Julia have been consistent for us all year. They got a great effort from their teammates tonight and this result was a great tribute to them."
Virginia outshot Boston College 25-15 and had a 4-0 corner kick advantage. Wisman made one save over the first 14 minutes before giving way to Danielle DeLisle (Baltimore, Md.), who made five saves over the final 76 minutes in goal. Alexa Gaul made eight saves at the other end for Boston College.
The Cavaliers finished the ACC season in a four-way tie for second place with Maryland, Wake Forest and North Carolina. Due to the tie-breaking procedures, Virginia is the No. 5 seed for the ACC Tournament and open postseason play Sunday at No. 4 seed North Carolina. Game time for the quarterfinal matchup at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill is 1 p.m.
