Eighth-Ranked Cavaliers Set to Battle VCU Thursday

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The No. 8 Virginia field hockey team is set to battle its third in-state opponent of the season, Virginia Commonwealth, at 6 p.m. Thursday at the University Hall Turf Field. The Cavaliers are 6-1 on the season and coming off two wins over the weekend against Kent State and No. 15 Louisville.

Four different players scored in UVa’s 4-2 win Saturday over the Golden Flashes. On Sunday, again four different Cavaliers tallied goals in another 4-2 victory against the Cardinals. Fourth-year Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn scored in each of Virginia’s wins and for her efforts was named to the womensfieldhockey.com honor roll, announced Monday.

On the season, 10 Virginia players have scored, led by five goals from first-year Paige Selenski. Teammates Traci Ragukas and Michelle Vittese have each tallied four goals. The Cavaliers, who are an undefeated 6-0 at home, have outscored their opponents 26-8 this season.

Virginia Commonwealth enters the matchup at Virginia with a 4-2 overall record and is 2-1 on the road. The Rams are coming off a 1-1 weekend at home after falling to Saint Joseph’s 2-0 and rebounding to defeat Penn 3-1.

On the year, Marle van Dessel leads VCU with six goals and three assists. Lindsay Jones has scored three times and Nikki Hollibaugh has tallied two goals. In the cage, Laura Baker has a 1.53 goals against average to go with 36 saves on the year.

VCU has never beaten Virginia as the Cavaliers own a 27-0 record all-time against the Rams. The two teams last met in 2006, with UVa coming away with a 3-1 victory at the U-Hall Turf Field.