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WOMEN'S TEAM FALLS JUST SHORT OF NATIONAL CROWN The only thing standing between Virginia's women's soccer team and a perfect, NCAA-championship winning season in 2014 was Florida State. UVa went 23-3, with all three of its losses coming to the Seminoles by an identical 1-0 score. The first defeat came in Tallahassee, Fla., in late September. The second came at the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., in November. The third, and most painful, occurred in the championship game of the NCAA Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla., in December. "It is tough for us as there isn't much separating our two teams," Virginia head coach Steve Swanson said afterward. "It was three one-goal games and we couldn't get a goal against them in three tries, and they deserve credit for that. "I am very proud of how our team played today. Both teams had a few chances and give them credit, they took advantage of one." As bitter as the ending was for Swanson's squad, the season was a resounding success. Virginia had never made it to the NCAA title game. Just a season before, the Cavaliers had suffered a crushing semifinal loss to UCLA in a penalty kick shootout. Two days before the third and final loss to Florida State, Virginia beat Texas A&M in the semifinals. Third-year forward Makenzy Doniak scored her school- record 20th goal of the season in what was an extremely impressive 3-1 victory. With the game tied at 1-1, Virginia retook the lead late in the first half with a goal in the 44th minute. Fourth-year forward/midfielder Danielle Colaprico's corner kick was headed across the face of the goal by second-year defender/midfielder Tina Iordanou to third-year defender/midfielder Emily Sonnett, who headed it into the goal. The Cavaliers' defense hunkered down over the final 45 minutes, highlighted by two key saves by second-year goalie Morgan Stearns midway through the stanza. In the 87th minute, second-year midfielder Alexis Shaffer sealed the win when she collected the ball, dribbled into the box and made a move past a defender before perfectly placing a shot inside the far post. That would wind up being Virginia's final goal of the season. At the end of the campaign, UVa's players received a bevy of accolades. Doniak, Colaprico, Sonnett and fourth-year midfielder Morgan Brian were named NSCAA All-Americans, with Colaprico also picking up a pair of All-Academic team selections. Brian, who graduated as one of the most decorated athletes in school history — in any sport — repeated as the MAC Hermann Trophy winner. "I want to thank my teammates and coaching staff and Virginia, because this honor belongs to them, too," Brian said. "This award means a lot. When you hear the list of previous winners and you know what they have accomplished, to be part of that group, especially as a two-time winner, is an incredible honor. This a great way to end my college career." — Whitelaw Reid Fourth-year Danielle Co- laprico (24) and the Cavaliers had plenty to celebrate in 2014, posting a 23-3 record and advancing to the NCAA title game for the first time in school history. PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA