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KENT, Ohio – The sixth-ranked Virginia field hockey team (5-0) cruised to an 8-2 victory over Kent State Friday at Murphy-Mellis Field in Kent, Ohio. UVa’s eight goals are the most in a single game under head coach Michele Madison.

The last time the Cavaliers scored eight goals in a game was on Oct. 6, 2004, an 8-0 victory over Longwood at home.

For the second time this season, freshman Tara Puffenberger, a native of Dallas, Pa., scored twice in a game. Senior Traci Ragukas also contributed two scores and an assist.

Junior Haley Carpenter tallied her first goal of the season while Paige Selenski, Michelle Vittese and Britt Knouse rounded out the scoring. Selenski, Vittese and Knouse also contributed assists in the winning effort.

The Cavaliers outshot the Golden Flashes 29-5 and also had an 8-2 advantage on penalty corners. Kent State goalkeeper Caroline Suitch finished with 13 saves.

Puffenberger started the scoring 9:11 into the game with an unassisted goal off her own shot deflection. Kent State responded five minutes later when Debbie Bell tied the game at 15:04 from the left side. She was assisted by teammate Rachel Miller.

The Cavaliers took the lead again a minute and a half later when Ragukas recorded her first goal of the day. She scored from approximately two yards out and was assisted by Knouse.

The Golden Flashes again were quick to respond. Bell tied the game at two on a KSU penalty corner, sending the ball past UVa starter Adrienne Ostroff. Junior goalkeeper Kim Kastuk would enter the contest near the 20 minute mark and played the remainder of the game.

From that point, the Virginia offense took over and scored six unanswered goals. Puffenberger’s second of the game at 21:01 proved to be the game-winner. Two of UVa’s eight scores came off penalty corners.

The Cavaliers play at Ohio University at 1 p.m. Sunday in Athens, Ohio.

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