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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The eighth-ranked Virginia field hockey team (7-1) remained unbeaten at home this season after shutting out in-state foe Virginia Commonwealth 3-0 Thursday at the University Hall Turf Field. Fourth-year All-American Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn scored twice in the winning effort.

“We like being at home,” head coach Michele Madison said. “We are continuing to develop. Tonight we were able to possess the ball and we also tried another press. The defense did a great job of communicating. They were organized as a unit.”

The Cavaliers dominated offensively, outshooting VCU (4-3) 17-1 in the match and took six penalty corners to just one for the Rams.

Virginia converted on its first penalty corner of the game, just 2:54 into the contest. Third-year Lauren Elstein pushed the ball out to teammate Pien Hulsebosch, who tapped it over to Kaars Sijpesteijn for her fourth goal of the season.

The Cavaliers then went up 2-0 at 20:27 when second-year Taylor Swezey fed the ball in the middle to first-year Paige Selenski, who blasted the ball past VCU goalkeeper Laura Baker. It was Selenski’s team-leading sixth score of the year.

UVa scored its third goal on another penalty corner attempt in the second half. The ball was pushed out and passed around before Kaars Sijpestein recorded the score from Selenski.

The Virginia defense had an excellent outing and recorded its third shutout of the year. Devon Burnley recorded a save on the lone Ram shot in the second half. Baker, meanwhile, finished with nine saves in the cage.

The Cavaliers close their four game homestand at 1 p.m. Sunday against Ohio.

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