Field Hockey Rallies to Defeat Duke

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Oct. 31, 1998

DURHAM, N.C.–Thirteenth-ranked Duke (9-8) almost pulled the trick on second-ranked Virginia (15-3) on Halloween with a 1-0 lead halfway through the first half, but the Cavaliers rallied for the final two goals of the game to defeat ACC-rival Duke 2-1 today in Virginia’s last regular season game. With the win, the Cavaliers improve to 15-3 and 4-0 in the ACC. It is the second consecutive year that the Cavaliers have gone through the ACC slate undefeated.

Duke scored first on a corner play with 16:18 remaining in the first half of play as Mary Jo Reider connected off a corner play. Corey Ceccolini was credited with the assist.

Virginia tied the game as Michelle Vizzuso (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) scored on a blast from the left side of the circle with 5:23 remaining in the half. The teams entered halftime tied at 1-1. In the second half, Virginia was awarded 13 corners to Duke’s 1 but was unable to place the ball in the net. The Cavalier defense was able to hold Duke to one shot in the second half, but the game-winning goal did not come until the 11:41 mark of the second. Vizzuso passed the ball to Meridith Thorpe (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs), who was able to hit the ball into the cage for the game-winner.

The Cavaliers out-shot the Blue Devils 15-4 and out-cornered them 17-4. With her three points today, Vizzuso moves into a tie for third all-time at Virginia with 154 points and her 58th career assist moves her into a tie for second all-time in the ACC. Virginia will host the 1998 ACC tournament next weekend. Play starts on Thursday as #4 Wake Forest (9-7, 1-3 ACC, ranked #17) takes on #5 Duke (9-8, 0-4 ACC, ranked #13) at 2:00. The Cavaliers will play the winner of that game on Friday, Nov. 6 at 2:30. The other semifinal features #2 Maryland (14-5, 3-1 ACC, ranked #8) against #3 North Carolina (11-4, 2-2 ACC, ranked #5) at 12:30.

FINAL            1   2    F (records)#2 Virginia      1   1    2 (15-3, 4-0 ACC)#13 Duke         1   0    1 (9-8, 0-4 ACC)Scoring summary: D: Reider (Ceccolini)/16:18(1);                 V: Vizzuso/5:23(1);				 V: Thorpe (Vizzuso)/11:41(2)Goals: V: Thorpe, Vizzuso       D: ReiderAssists: V: M. Vizzuso         D: CeccoliniShots: V: 15, D: 4Corners: V: 17, D: 4Saves: V: 2 (Worthington 2); D:6 (Robb 5, Dunn 1)