Story Links

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The sixth-ranked Virginia field hockey team (2-0) topped No. 11 Penn State 1-0 Sunday at the University Hall Turf Field. Newcomer Inga Stöckel scored the only goal of the game on a penalty corner in the first half.

The Virginia defense was solid for the second consecutive game, finishing the weekend with another shutout. The Cavaliers shut out Miami (Ohio) 7-0 on Friday to open the season.

“The defense was the star of the weekend,” UVa head coach Michele Madison said. “The back four played a solid game and the attack created a lot of opportunities. We had two shutouts against two well-coached teams, and that was especially important today playing a top team like Penn State. That is just incredible this early in the season.”

The Cavaliers outshot Penn State 17-5 for the game, including a 10-2 shot advantage in the second half, but missed some scoring opportunities. Virginia also had four penalty corners to PSU’s three.

“We created attack opportunities and definitely dominated that part of the game,” Madison continued. “We just were not able to capitalize. Penn State packed it in back there with four (defenders) but we still had really nice speed and ball movement.”

The lone goal came at 24:53 in the first half on Virginia’s second penalty corner. Freshman Charlotte van den Broek injected the ball to senior Traci Ragukas. Ragukas stopped it in front of Stöckel, who sent the ball past PSU keeper Ali Meves.

Junior Kim Kastuk finished the game with three saves in the cage for the Orange and Blue while Meves tallied nine saves for the Nittany Lions.

Virginia will play at Providence at 4 p.m. Friday in the team’s first away match of the season.

Print Friendly Version