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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. The 10th-ranked Virginia field hockey team (10-4) dropped a 3-2 decision to No. 5 Iowa (11-3) Saturday in University Park, Pa. Third-year Traci Ragukas and first-year Floor Vogels recorded goals for the Cavaliers. The game was the first loss in regulation this season for UVa.
First-year Michelle Vittese returned to the Virginia lineup after missing the previous eight games because of injury, but the Cavalers played without starting forward Lauren Elstein, who is currently sidelined because of an injury suffered earlier this week in practice.
Though trailing 2-0 in the first half, the largest margin by which Virginia has been behind all season, the Cavaliers were able to fight back and tie the game with Ragukas’ goal with 29 minutes remaining in the second half.
Iowa, however, rebounded to score the game winner on a penalty corner in the 53rd minute. Amy Baxter deflected the shot in front of the goal after teammate Lauren Pfeiffer shot in from the top of the circle.
The Cavaliers outshot Iowa 17-11 in the game and tallied nine corners to six for the Hawkeyes. Vittese led Virginia with four shots while Inge Kaars Sijpestein had three.
Despite the Virginia defense holding Iowa to just two shots in the first half, both of them resulted in goals. In the fifth minute, Roz Ellis finished off a penalty corner to put the Hawkeyes up 1-0.
Later in the half, at 18:09, Tricia Dean broke away and outran most of the Cavalier defense, eventually beating the final defenders as well as starting keeper Devon Burnley. Iowa’s 2-0 lead marked the first time all season Virginia has trailed by two goals.
The Cavalier offense was able to get some solid looks in the first half, outshooting Iowa 10-2 in the first 35 minutes. Two of UVa’s early shots made it past the keeper but the Hawkeyes were able to record defensive saves.
Virginia also took four penalty corners in the first half, including three in a row. UVa’s best chance was a Vittese shot that went wide. Then, with 5:12 left to play in the half, the Cavaliers were able to cut the lead to one. On the team’s fourth corner, Floor Vogels recorded her fifth goal of the game off a pass from Pein Holsebach and Kaityln Hiltz.
Fifth-year Amy Desjadon relieved Burnley midway through the first half and finished with two saves in just over 44 minutes in the cage. Iowa goalkeeper Lissa Munley tallied three saves.
Virginia concludes its trip to State College with a 1 p.m. contest Sunday against Penn State, which defeated Iowa 2-1 Friday.