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NORFOLK, Va. – Freshman Elly Buckley’s goal in the fourth minute of overtime lifted the third-ranked Virginia field hockey team (6-0) to a 2-1 victory over No. 9 Syracuse Sunday in Norfolk, Va. Sophomore Tara Puffenberger capped a solid weekend, also notching a goal.

After regulation ended, the Cavaliers came on strong with two quick shots out of the gate. Then at 73:32, Puffenberger (Dallas, Pa.) passed the ball to her left, where Buckley (Perth, Australia) proceeded to dribble into the circle around multiple defenders before firing into the cage for what proved to be the game-winner.

For the contest, Virginia outshot Syracuse 16-11, including a 3-0 margin in the overtime session. In the first half, the Orange (4-2) outshot UVa 4-3. The Cavaliers also recorded eight penalty corners to SU’s four.

Senior goalkeeper Kim Kastuk (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) recorded seven saves in the outing.

Syracuse struck first and took a 1-0 lead after a penalty corner. Amy Kee’s initial shot was saved by Kastuk but teammate Martina Loncarica picked up the rebound and put it in for the first score of the game.

Virginia responded three minutes later when Buckley, near the middle, found Puffenberger out wide to her right. Puffenberger fired toward the cage and got the ball past SU’s Leann Stiver to tie the contest at one.

The Cavaliers had a couple of chances to finish off the Orange and regulation. With just over six minutes to play, Buckley, who was in the backfield, found a wide-open Puffenberger way up top. Stiver had a good angle on Puffenberger and forced her to miss wide right, just barely, on the one-on-one opportunity.

With the clock winding down, sophomore Britt Knouse (Mount Joy, Pa.) dribbled into the circle, again with a one-on-one opportunity against Stiver. But with two defenders pressuring, Knouse was forced to shoot and the ball went off Stiver’s pads. In the final seconds, Hadley Bell (Shaker Heights, Ohio) got a nice ball to Puffenberger, but Stiver recorded yet another save as regulation ended. Stiver had six saves in the second half alone.

Virginia returns to action Saturday at Lafayette in Easton, Pa. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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