Cavaliers Upset James Madison 3-1

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CharlottesvilleThe Cavalier field hockey team held No.7/8 James Madison to only one shot in the second half and scored twice in the same frame to upset the Dukes 3-1 today (Sept. 16) in Charlottesville. Virginia (5-2) outshot James Madison 12-5 and had five short corners to the Dukes’ four. The No. 14/17 Cavaliers got goals from three different players and scored as many goals in today’s game as James Madison (5-2) had surrendered in their previous six games together.

Virginia got on the board first as a Sara Confer free hit was tipped into the circle by a JMU defender; Taylor Swezey attempted to play the ball but was fouled, drawing a short corner for the Cavaliers. On the play, the option left to Hiltz was tipped to the boards by Lucy Meyers at 7:36, putting the Hoos up 1-0.

The Dukes counterattacked a couple of times, and drew three corners in the opening period, but they were unable to convert on the set pieces. Starting keeper Amy Desjadon made a save on one of the direct shots to keep the lead at 1-0. JMU, however, was able to get on the board just before halftime as Melissa Stefaniak intercepted a pass at midfield and attacked the circle, scoring at 30:34 to tie the game at 1-1, the score the two teams took into the break.

Just over a minute into the second half, Fenna Breitbarth stole the ball just below the attacking 25 and drove towards the cage. Her shot from the short angle was deflected into the cage by a Duke back, putting the Cavaliers up 2-1 at 36:15.

Virginia doubled its lead ten minutes later as Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn took a free hit on the left side of the pitch at midfield, sending the ball up to Breitbarth. Breitbarth and Kaitlyn Hiltz worked a 2v1 into the circle, drawing a short corner. On the play, Kaars Sijpesteijn took a short pass from Abby Taylor and rocketed a shot to the cage that was tipped to the roof by a JMU defender, giving UVa a 3-1 lead at 48:14. JMU managed just one shot in the second half; it sailed wide and the Cavaliers went on to the South Regional victory.

The Cavaliers return to action next Saturday (Sept. 22) as they host the Eagles of Boston College. The ACC game will take place at 1:00 and will be followed by a game between Boston University and Longwood.

Linescore 1 2 F (records)
JMU 1 0 1 (5-2)
Virginia 1 2 3 (5-2)

Scoring summary
7:36 VA pc Meyers (Hiltz) 1-0
30:34 JM fg M. Stefaniak (—) 1-1
36:15 VA fg Breitbarth (—) 2-1
48:14 VA pc Kaars Sijpesteijn (Taylor) 3-1

Keepers: VA: Amy Desjadon (35 mins, 1 save, 1 GA); Devon Burnley (35 mins, 0 sav, 0 GA)
JMU: Kelsey Cutchins (70 mins 3 saves, 3 GA)

Total shots: VA 12, JMU 5
Short corners: VA 5, JMU 4
Incidents: VA # 8 GC, 11:42; VA #9 YC, 44:44; JM #8 YC, 52:25; VA # 22 YC, 53:03; JM #15 YC, 53:03