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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The 10th-ranked Virginia field hockey team (10-3, 1-1 ACC) dropped a 4-3 decision in extra time Saturday against No. 1 Maryland (10-1, 3-0 ACC). The game-winning goal for the Terps, scored by Emma Thomas, came in the 80th minute. First-year Paige Selenski scored twice for the Cavaliers, who played its fifth overtime game of the year.
“This game was bittersweet,” Virginia head coach Michele Madison said. “It’s good to know we can perform that way against the No. 1 team in the country. We were able to isolate ourselves and get some 2-on-1 opportunities that gave us some really good looks at the goal. That is really positive. I told them we just set out standard to what is possible.”
For the game, Virginia outshot Maryland 15-10 while both teams had five short corner opportunities.
“It means a lot,” senior co-captain Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn said of the game. “It means we are capable of competing with the No. 1 team in the country. But they were able to score shortly after we did. I don’t know if it’s their maturity or what it is. But we need to work on that after we score we need to keep our composure and go for the next one.”
Maryland got on the board first in the ninth minute, converting on its first corner of the game. Susie Rowe scored her 14th of the season with assists from Alexis Pappas and Katie O’Donnell. The Cavaliers, however, responded just 18 seconds later, also converting on a corner. First-year Floor Vogels netted her fourth of the year with an assists from fourth-year Lucy Meyers.
Virginia took its first lead of the game at 21:33 when Selenski notched her first of two scores in the contest. Selenski scored her 12th career goal, connecting on a shot near the center of the circle after receiving a pass from Kaars Sijpesteijn.
The Cavaliers led 2-1 at the half but the Terrapins were able to tie the game for the second time when sophomore Katie O’Donnell tallied her 13th score of the season.
UVa then went up again, 3-2, with just 8:07 left to play in the game. Selenski scored the goal on a breakaway, weaving past three Maryland defenders before shooting it past keeper Alicia Grater.
Maryland tied it up for the third time with just 4:15 left to play. Murracco tipped in a shot from Thomas following a penalty corner. The Terps had pulled their goalkeeper and competed with 11 field players for approximately four minutes. After tying the game, Grater returned.
Virginia recorded three shots during the overtime session. Selenski had another great scoring opportunity after she got free but her shot was saved by Grater. The Cavaliers also took a penalty corner and were able to more the ball around but with Lauren Elstein sitting on the post, the ball went wide of the cage. Grater finished with five saves in the game.
The Cavaliers are back in action next Saturday (Oct. 11) with a 2 p.m. contest against Iowa in University Park, Pa.