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Matt Moore elevated and shot around his defender all in one motion while his momentum carried him away from the goal.  

“How?” play-by-play announcer Glen Clark asked after the shot sailed past Loyola’s Sam Shafer and into the back of the goal. “How in the world?”

Moore’s fifth goal of the evening was the exclamation point on No. 5 Virginia’s 15-12 win over No. 12 Loyola and continued the Cavaliers’ (3-0) hot start to 2021. It also probably left the Greyhounds (1-1) asking the same question as Clark. 

Unlike last weekend when Loyola managed only three goals before breaking through in the fourth quarter of its overtime victory at Richmond, the Greyhounds got off to a much faster start at home. Kevin Lindley, who scored the final three goals against Richmond (including the overtime winner), made his impact felt earlier in Loyola’s home opener. 

In the first quarter, the senior attackman from Darien (Ct.) registered two goals and almost had a third on a slick behind-the-back shot before it was called off because of a goal mouth violation. Loyola led 4-1 after the first period. 

In a similar fashion to their first two wins, however, the Cavaliers once again stormed back after spotting their opponent an early lead. Virginia built a 6-4 advantage after a five-goal run with tallies from five different players. 

But unlike Virginia’s wins over Towson and Army, Loyola absorbed the Cavaliers’ goals in quick succession, then responded with its own. Sophomore attackman Evan James (three goals, one assist) matched his entire goals total from 2020 in one game. His second goal of the night after Seth Higgins found him open on the crease cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 7-6 with 20 seconds remaining in the first half. 

Lindley tied things up only 35 seconds into the second half, but Moore answered less than a minute later. Every time Loyola threatened, Virginia — and usually Moore — had a response. He bookended a three-goal run to close out the third quarter that extended the Cavaliers’ lead to 12-9. Payton Cormier, who registered a hat trick, also scored during the run on a spinning effort. 

Consecutive transition goals by Lindley and James less than a minute after the start of the fourth quarter pulled the Greyhounds back to within one. This time, Connor Shellenberger extended the Cavaliers lead, albeit with a deflected goal. His first goal of the game was much more highlight worthy. 

The redshirt-freshman from Charlottesville continued his early success with two goals and three assists and showed he’s just as effective running out of the box as starting down low at attack. The same goes for graduate transfer Charlie Bertrand (two goals) who preserved his scoring streak (now at 61 games) that he started at Merrimack. 

After Loyola cut Virginia’s lead to 13-12 halfway through the fourth quarter, Moore saved his best for last with that low-angle jump shot from the right wing with 5:21 to play. 

Virginia held the Greyhounds scoreless the rest of the way. 

A week after Bobby Gavin filled in for Alex Rode, who was unavailable, and earned ACC defensive player of the week honors, the freshman from San Diego got his second win in as many starts. He made nine saves to finish with a .429 save percentage.