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Oct. 28, 1998

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Cavalier field hockey team ranked second in the nation, held off in-state rival Radford 3-1 tonight at University Hall Turf Field behind a pair of unassisted goals by Meredith Elwell (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown). The win was the Cavaliers’ 11th win at home this season and the 15th win in a row at home, continuing both school records.

Elwell started the scoring for the Cavaliers with a goal with just under 10 minutes elapsed in the game. She collected a loose ball off a penalty corner and stuck it in the goal to give the Cavaliers the early lead. Michelle Vizzuso (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) scored with 11:26 left in the first half on another corner play. She was assisted on the play by Lori Mastropietro (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock). Virginia led at halftime 2-0.

Virginia went to 3-0 with a second goal by Elwell, who dug the ball out of the pads of the Radford goalie after a Meridith Thorpe (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs) shot on a penalty corner. Elwell’s goal just 2:04 into the second period gave the Cavaliers a three goal lead. But Radford scrapped back with a goal with just 5:17 remaining in the contest as Rachael Wood intercepted a pass in the Virginia backfield and took the ball down where she snapped it past Cavalier keeper Becky Worthington (Fairview Village, Pa./Methacton). Michelle Vizzuso’s goal, which proved to be the game-winner, gives her 10 game-winning goals for her career to go along with 11 game-winning assists. She is the first person in Cavalier history to record double digits in career game-winning goals and assists. With the win, the Cavaliers improve to 14-3 on the season. Virginia will complete its regular season with a trip to Durham, N.C. to face the 13th-ranked Blue Devils. Game time on Saturday, October 31 is at 1:00 pm. Virginia will host the 1998 ACC Field Hockey Championships from November 5-8, 1998. Duke and Wake Forest will play on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 2:00 pm. Virginia, the regular season ACC Champions, will play the winner of that game at 2:30 on Friday, Nov. 6. #5 North Carolina and #8 Maryland will face off in the first semifinal at 12:00 on that day.

FINAL         1    2    F (records)Radford       0    1    1 (7-10)#2 Virginia   2    1    3 (14-3)

Scoring Summary: V: Elwell/25:45(1); V: M. Vizzuso (Mastropietro)/11:26(1); V:Elwell/32:56(2); R: Wood/5:17(2)Goals: UVA: Elwell 2, M. Vizzuso 1 Radford: Wood 1Assists: UVA: MastropietroShots: V: 10, Radford: 3Corners: V: 12, Radford:3Saves: V: 1 (Worthington 1); Radford: 4 (Peterson 4)

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