Virginia Opens ACC Slate with 2-0 Win Over BC

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 4 Virginia field hockey team improved to 10-0 on the year with a 2-0 win over No. 9 Boston College Sunday at the University Hall Turf Field. The Cavaliers are off to their best start since the 1979 team started the year 12-0.

“Ten is a nice number and it’s even nicer to get the first ACC game under our belt,” Virginia head coach Michele Madison said. “We started a little tentative but we were able to work things out and get our attack moving.”

After a scoreless first half, Virginia went up 1-0 with a goal just under the 20-minute mark, converting on a penalty corner. Sophomore Inga Stöckel ripped the ball past BC goalkeeper Kristine Stigas on an assist from teammate Paige Selenski.

Selenski rounded out the scoring nine minutes later shortly after another penalty corner opportunity. After the ball got away from her, Selenski recovered and dribbed through the Eagle defense to set up a shot that put the ball in the back of the cage. It was her team-best 10th goal of the season.

“BC is a strong team and our shot opportunities are going to be less and less in the ACC,” Madison continued. “We only had one shot in the first half and no one has been able to do that to us. We told them in the second half to start shooting. We can’t win if you don’t shoot. We created some better scoring opportunities and pulled right to get around their defense.

Virginia outshot Boston College 9-3 for the game, including an 8-2 advantage in the second half. The Cavaliers also registered six penalty corners, including five in the second stanza, to BC’s two.

The Cavalier defense recorded its seventh shutout of the year, including its third straight. Virginia has yet to allow a score in the second half this season.

“The defense is focused,” Madison said. “Floor (Vogels) vocalizes back there and they just keep their cool really well. They can get hyper at times but overall they were able to keep Boston College out of the circle and keep (current NCAA scoring leader) Chelsey Feole from playing the ball.”

Stugas and UVa goalkeeper Kim Kastuk each finished with three saves.

Virginia returns to action at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Richmond.