Virginia Downs JMU 3-1 in Preseason Scrimmage

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia field hockey team defeated in-state foe James Madison 3-1 Thursday in a preseason scrimmage at the University Hall Turf Field. Newcomer Elly Buckley notched two goals while sophomore Tara Puffenberger provided a goal and an assist.

The two teams played two 25-minute periods followed by one 20-minute session. In total, the Cavaliers outshot JMU 15-5, including a 7-0 margin in the first period. The Dukes held a 5-4 advantage on penalty corners.

“It’s early in the preseason but we wanted to see how far we have gotten in a week,” Virginia head coach Michele Madison, in her fifth season, said. “You want to be in competitive situations. We saw a lot and the most important thing is it’s on film so our players will be able to make adjustments.”

In the first period, Virginia took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute when Buckley, a freshman from Perth, Australia, grabbed the ball off JMU goalkeeper Margo Savage, who had saved a Puffenberger shot. Buckley put it past Savage to give the Cavaliers the score.

UVa junior goalkeeper Adrienne Ostroff played the first 25 minutes in the cage.

Virginia went up 2-0 when Puffenberger, a Dallas, Pa., native, converted on a pass from Buckley on another rebounded shot. Buckley gathered the ball and sent it over to her teammate, who this time got past JMU’s Stephanie Tarafas.

“They kept it simple,” Madison said of Buckley and Puffenberger’s offensive performance. “When they keep it simple and build it up pass by pass, we end up in the circle.”

Goalkeeper Kim Kastuk, a 2009 third team All-American, recorded three saves in the second 25 minutes for UVa. The Cavaliers led 2-0 at the end of the second period.

The Dukes got on the board in the 57th minute when Delores de Rooij sent a rocket from the top of the circle straight into the cage, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Virginia was able to respond, scoring nine minutes later when Buckley notched her second goal of the game. She was assisted on the score by Puffenberger.

Sophomore keeper Amanda Crider played the entire third period for the Orange and Blue, finishing with one save.

Buckley led the Cavaliers with five shots, while Kaitlyn Hiltz and Puffenberger each tallied three.

Virginia opens the 2010 campaign next Saturday (Aug. 28) against St. Joesph’s in Philadelphia, Pa. Game time is set for 11 a.m.