No. 1 Maryland Tops No. 3 Virginia in Overtime

Story Links

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The third-ranked Virginia field hockey team (9-1, 1-1 ACC) suffered its first loss of the season in a 2-1 overtime loss to top-ranked Maryland (9-1, 3-0 ACC) Friday at the University Hall Turf Field. Junior Paige Selenski scored the lone goal for the Cavaliers.

Maryland’s Katie O’Donnell tipped in the game-winner on a Maryland penalty corner just 3:16 into the overtime session. Jemma Buckley, sister of UVa’s Elly Buckley (Perth, Australia), was credited with the assist, setting up O’Donnell from the top of the circle.

It was the third overtime game of the year for the Cavaliers, who are 2-1 in extra session contests.

“The team that deserved to win the game won it,” head coach Michele Madison said. “Both teams had their chances and Maryland was able to convert. We are going to have to get a lot better to beat a team like that.”

Virginia outshot the Terrapins 15-13 for the contest, but Maryland had a 12-6 advantage on penalty corners, including a 9-2 margin in the first half. Both of the Terps’ goals came on penalty corners.

Buckley led UVa with six shots, five of which were on goal, while Selenski (Shavertown, Pa.) and Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) each had three.

Virginia was first on the board, scoring in just the sixth minute of action. Selenski got a hold of the ball in open space near the 25 and dribbled around two Maryland defenders for an open shot and a 1-0 lead.

It wasn’t until the 25th minute when the Terps tied it up. On a penalty corner, O’Donnell injected into Harriet Tibble. Tibble was able to lay it in front of Jemma Buckley, who blasted a shot from the top of the circle that hit the board and tied the game.

In a scoreless second half, senior Shelly Edmonds (Emmaus, Pa.) cleared a ball out on a Maryland penalty corner that eventually led to a corner for UVa. A shot was set up for Buckley to take the shot, but it was saved by Maryland keeper Melissa Vassalotti.

Near the end of the half, Selenski again found herself outrunning Maryland. As she approached the cage, two defenders came up and applied pressure, and Selenski’s shot missed just wide as the clock showed one minute remaining in regulation.

Virginia goalkeeper Kim Kastuk (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) finished with five saves while teammates Chloe Pendlebury (Perth, Australia) and Carissa Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) both recorded a defensive save.

The Cavaliers return to action Wednesday for a 6 p.m. contest at home against Longwood.