Cavaliers Open Season with 5-0 Win Over Tribe

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The 11th-ranked Virginia field hockey team opened the 2008 season with a 5-0 win over William & Mary Friday at the University Hall Turf Field. Five different Cavaliers scored, including Lauren Elstein, Paige Selenski, Taylor Swezey, Kaitlyn Hiltz and Traci Ragukas.

“There were a lot of bright moments,” UVa head coach Michele Madison said. “It was a total team effort and our scoring distribution was good. Our attack stats were even in both halves. Obviously with it being the first game, there are some areas where we will continue to grow and develop. We still have to get used to playing with each other.”

The Cavaliers got on the board less than four minutes into the contest, when first-year Michelle Vittese fed Elstein for the first goal. Eight minutes later, UVa went up 2-0 on a Swezey score, assisted by Hiltz.

Virginia took a 3-0 lead before halftime when Hiltz recorded her first goal of the year on an assist from Ragukas.

The Cavaliers added two more goals in the second half. Selenski tallied her first career collegiate goal at 45:08 and Ragukas then rounded out the scoring effort at 56:58 on an assist from Swezey.

UVa goalkeepers Devon Burnley and Amy Desjadon combined to earn the shutout. Burley played the first half in the change and Desjadon finished out the game, recording one save.

Virginia outshot William & Mary 28-2 and had 13 shots on goal, compared to one for the Tribe. The Cavaliers also outcornered William & Mary 5-1.

The Cavaliers return to action at 3:30 p.m. Sunday against Providence at the North Turf Field. William & Mary will battle the Friars at 2 p.m. Saturday in a neutral site game in Charlottesville.