A decade of domination ended under rain and lights Sept. 7 at Spry Stadium when the 13th-ranked men's soccer team upset 6th-ranked Virginia 2-1 for their first win over the Wahoos since 1991.

"I've only been here three years, but it felt good to be a member of the team that finally beat UVa.," junior Brian Carroll said.

Carroll led the team in the victory, scoring the first goal in the 38th minute and assisting junior Jeremiah White's game winner in the 45th minute in this ACC opener for both teams before 2,555 fans at Spry Stadium.

"It was real awesome," sophomore James Riley said. "We've been working hard for this, but we're still not satisfied."

The first half began slowly with Virginia controlling the pace. The Deacs had a good look off a place kick from 24 yards out in the 19th minute, but the Cavalier keeper stretched to punch clear a dipping shot by Carroll.

"UVa. Came out direct with a lot of diagonals, trying to expose us early," Carroll said. "They looked for an advantage, but we didn't give up anything stupid."

The Deacons got on the scoreboard in the 38th minute when Carroll teamed up with freshman Ryan Alexander for a give and go that sprung Carroll free in front of the goal where he slipped the ball past the Cav's keeper.

With the half ending, Carroll won the ball on the Deac's half and played it to junior Vicente Bastidas across the field. Bastidas reconnected with Carroll as he streaked across a wide-open right flank. With 16 seconds on the scoreboard, Carroll sent the ball into the middle to an oncoming White who volleyed the ball past the keeper into the net for the second goal against a Virginia team that did not allow a goal in regular season ACC competition last year.

"It took us a while to get our rhythm and get comfortable," Riley said. "Once we got that first goal, though, things opened up and the second one followed on the momentum."

Virginia returned to the field with more focus for the second half. They pressured the Deacs early, forcing junior Wiggy Saunders to clear a shot off the goal line in the 51st minute. The Cavaliers continued to push forward until a goal in the 59th minute by Ryan Gibbs cut the score to 2-1.

"To give up a goal the way we did was disappointing," Carroll said. "They caught us off guard and did a good job of finishing."

Both teams had several close opportunities as the game continued, but no more goals were scored and the Deacs finished with a 2-1 win.

"We were a little frantic at the start of the second half, but their goal really woke us up," junior Will Hesmer said. "They're a good team and it would have been hard to shut them out."

The victory was the team's first against a ranked opponent since defeating 5th-ranked UNC last October. With it, the Deacons remain unbeaten on the season at 3-0-1 and begin the ACC season with a 1-0 record."We didn't play our best game and we still beat Virginia 2-1," Hesmer said. "We have a lot of potential."