# Virginia Women's Soccer Ekes Out Draw with Clemson

> Virginia women's soccer team secures a narrow 1-1 draw with Clemson after a dramatic second-half comeback.
- Title: Virginia Women's Soccer Ekes Out Draw with Clemson | Shortify
- Summary: Virginia women's soccer team secures a narrow 1-1 draw with Clemson after a dramatic second-half comeback. Virginia women's soccer team earns a 1-1 draw with…
- Keywords: virginia women's soccer, clemson women's soccer, acc standings, steve swanson, carrie helfrich, addison halpern, jordyn hardeman, acc tournament, sports, Virginia, Women's, Soccer
- Source: Virginia Cavaliers On SI — https://si.com/college/virginia/virginia-women-s-soccer-ekes-out-draw-with-clemson
- Published: 2026-10-23T12:50:31+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: virginia women's soccer, clemson women's soccer, acc standings, steve swanson, carrie helfrich, addison halpern, jordyn hardeman, acc tournament, sports
## Virginia needed this game
Virginia needed this win to improve their ACC standings as of 10/23/2026.
## ACC standings update
Duke has one game in hand over Virginia, while Notre Dame, Stanford, and Louisville have two games in hand, and Florida State has three games in hand.
## Slow start
Virginia started the game as lackluster as they had been against Tech, UNC, and most of the ACC, keeping them out of the ACC tournament.
## Steve Swanson's method
Steve Swanson plays wide and controls the midfield and pace of the game deliberately, a philosophy similar to Tony Bennett's but with more experience.
## Virginia's decline
Virginia is becoming more toothless each year, struggling against high press and allowing unending passes between their back line.
## Clemson's defense
Clemson executed a masterclass in 1st-Defender/2nd-Defender defense, dispossessing Virginia's top ball carriers multiple times.
## Clemson's first goal
Clemson scored a 1-0 lead in the first half's last minute after a sequence of dispossessions by hard tackles.
## Virginia's weakness
Virginia cannot score because Aniyah Collier lacks touch and Gio Canali lacks speed to make the run.
## Second half shift
Virginia played with urgency after Clemson's goal, while Clemson ramped up physicality without thuggishness.
## Carrie Helfrich stars
Carrie Helfrich delivered multiple crosses, including one that Rademaker headed inches wide and another that led to Halpern's strike.
## Sarah Flammia's impact
Sarah Flammia, a more dangerous offensive player than Jordyn Hardeman, became Virginia's starter with better touch and tight space control.
## Final goal
Virginia scored with 33 seconds remaining on a cross from Carrie Helfrich to Addison Halpern for a 1-1 draw.
## Next up
Virginia has a week off before hosting Louisville on October 29th at 6:00pm via ACC Network.
## Key takeaway

Virginia women's soccer team earns a 1-1 draw with Clemson in a game where they scored with 33 seconds left after a strong second-half performance.