Cavaliers Fall in Extra Time to No. 2 Wake Forest
Story Links
Oct. 22, 2006
The University of Virginia field hockey team scored at 66:23, breaking up the five-game shutout streak by No. 2 Wake Forest, but the Cavaliers still fell to the Demon Deacons 2-1 today (Oct. 22) in Charlottesville. Traci Ragukas’ tip in of a long corner by Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn found the net and was the first goal allowed by Wake Forest (16-1) in 371:34, a span of six games. Virginia (12-5) also held the Demon Deacons well below their national-leading scoring average of 4.81 goals per game. After the game, the Cavaliers honored the fourth-year class of Katherine Blair, Biffy Cornelison, Alyssa Curmaci, Erin Hayes, Mia Link, and Lindsay O’Bannon.
The first half of the game was played primarily between the 25s, as the two teams combined for one short corner (by Wake in the 4th minute) and four shots (Wake, 3-1). Katherine Blair made two saves on Wake’s short corner while Crystal Duffield stopped a breakaway attempt by Erin Hayes in the eighth minute. The teams entered the break tied at 0-0.
The Demon Deacons earned three consecutive corners in the first 12 minutes of the second half, but they were only able to manage a short on the variation by Lauren Crandall, which was saved by Blair. A fourth short corner by Wake saw a variation to the left where Chelsea Cipriani’s shot from the left was saved. In the 56th minute a scrum in the Virginia D saw the ball pop top left to Michelle Kasold, who fired it in to the far sideboard for a goal and a Wake Forest lead. The Demon Deacons had another chance to add to their lead with a short corner minutes later, but they were unable to convert.
The Cavaliers drew a short corner in the 65th minute but the initial shot was saved. Virginia was able to draw a long corner, and Kaars Sijpesteijn’s insertion into the circle was tipped up by Ragukas, who scored in the 67th minute to tie the game. Wake was able to draw another short corner with one minute to play in regulation, but the initial shot was saved and the rebound sailed over the endline.
Virginia drew a short corner in the 76th minute and then a second consecutive one, but the direct shot was blocked and the two teams played in between the 25s again, before a breakaway up the left side of the pitch by Kasold saw a centering pass that was sent to the boards by a sprawling Cipriani, who hit the ball in while on the floor in the 83rd minute.
“It was an outstanding effort,” said Associate Head Coach Chris Spice. “We stuck to our game plan for the full 83 minutes, and that dedication showed through. It was a game that could have gone either way, and it just didn’t fall our way.”
Ragukas’ goal is the 15th of the season for the first year and it marks the seventh consecutive game in which she has scored.
The Cavaliers wrap up the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 28 as they travel to face No. 4 Duke. Game time against the Blue Devils is 1:00 pm.
Linescore 1 2 et F (records)Wake Forest 0 1 1 2 (16-1, 3-1 ACC)Virginia 0 1 0 1 (12-5, 1-3 ACC)
Scoring summary:55:22 WF, Kasold, fg66:23 VA, Ragukas, fg (Kaars Sijpesteijn)82:45 WF, Cipriani, fg (Kasold)
Keepers: VA: Katherine Blair (82:45 mins, 6 saves, 2 GA) WF: Crystal Duffield (82:45 mins, 1 save, 1 GA)
Shots: VA 4, WF 9Short corners: VA 3, WF 7Incidents: VA: Ragukas, GC, 35′; WF: Crandall, GC, 22′; Schiller, YC, 24′