CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Colgate's Martina Loncar scored her first collegiate goal but it wasn't quite enough in a hard-fought 2-1 defeat at No. 8 Virginia.
 
The Loncar tally was the first real Raider chance of the opening stanza, and it came only seconds before the halftime horn.
 
Loncar, who had just come on when Virginia scored less than two minutes prior, was the happy beneficiary of a Cavaliers mix-up at the penalty arc. The Colgate senior forward slipped between Virginia goalkeeper Michaela Moran and two defenders and was able to put just enough toe on the ball that it beat the UVa defender over the line for a 1-1 halftime score.
 
Virginia has broken the ice on Betsy Brandon's goal in the 43rd minute.
 
The Cavaliers then scored the game-winner in the 74th minute when Ayan Adu drilled a free kick into the upper right-hand corner. The spot kick came after a Colgate hand ball that was ruled just outside the penalty area, but Adu fired hard and true and Colgate goalkeeper Kelly Chiavaro never had a chance.
 
Chiavaro posted eight saves and defender Dom DeMarco added another at the goal line as Colgate's defense stood tall all night long.
 
A key moment occurred when the Raiders appeared to have taken a 2-1 lead in the 60th minute.
 
Ellis Miller on the run from about 45 yards out pooched one perfectly over Moran's head and against the underside of the crossbar. The ball caromed downward and may have crossed the goal line before rebounding into Moran's hand, but the game officials ruled no goal and play continued at 1-1.
 
Colgate's final chance was a long-range shot off the boot of Mara Cosentino in the 89th minute that Moran handled.
 
Bottom Line
• No. 8 Virginia 2, Colgate 1
 
Won-Lost Records
• Tonight was the season opener for both teams.
 
Facts & Figures
• Loncar's goal was the first by Colgate in three meetings against Virginia. The Cavaliers had prevailed 3-0 and 6-0 in the two previous matches.
• Colgate's starting 11 included four first-year Raiders: forwards Adrienne Vaughn and Jenna Borovinsky, midfielder Emily Amano and defender Ruby Diodati.
• Virginia improved to 17-1-0 in openers at Klöckner Stadium, and 254-50-22 (.813) all time on home turf.
• The Cavaliers returned nine starters from last year's team that advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16.
• Colgate under head coach Kathy Brawn is now 12-11-5 in season openers and 7-9-2 in season openers on the road.
• Tonight's game continues Colgate's recent trend of taking on top-notch competition in the early stages of the campaign. The Raiders over the last three years have played LSU, Boston College, Mississippi State, Syracuse, South Carolina and now Virginia.
 
From the Source
• Colgate head coach Kathy Brawn: "We emphasize to our players the necessity to 'solve the game.' This group did so many things right tonight. I'm so proud of the grit, talent and mental toughness that was on display throughout the match.
 
"Kelly Chiavaro came up large and her team rallied in front of her. We came back from a goal down to tie it up, and thought we had the go-ahead only to have it ruled no goal. We move away from this one with heads held high and ready to get back after it at UMass Lowell next week."
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at Klöckner Stadium was 1,174.
 
Up Next
• Colgate is on the road again Thursday at UMass Lowell.
• The River Hawks dropped a 4-2 decision Friday night at Loyola Chicago. They play Sunday at DePaul.
• Kickoff from Lowell is 7 p.m.