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No. 3 Virginia Downs Towson 4-2
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The third-ranked Virginia field hockey team improved to 2-1 on the year with a 4-2 win over Towson (0-3) Friday at Maryland’s Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex in College Park, Md. Sophomore Hadley Bell scored twice in the winning effort.
“Both teams really came to play so it was a great game,” Virginia head coach Michele Madison said. “Towson fought until the end and you have to give them a lot of credit.”
Virginia outshot Towson 16-7 in the contest and also registered an 8-3 advantage in penalty corners.
It took less than six minutes for the Cavaliers to jump out to a 2-0 lead over the Tigers. Bell notched the first score of the game just three minutes into the contest, scoring on an assist from freshman Jess Orrett. Sophomore Elly Buckley then made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal at 5:18.
“We were able to generate attack early,” Madison said. “We played up-tempo and put a lot of pressure on Towson.”
The Tigers got on the board two minutes and 20 seconds later when Katie DeFilippo recorded an unassisted goal of her own to cut the lead to 2-1. Virginia reclaimed its two-goal lead when Orrett scored in the 26th minute on a Cavalier penalty corner, but Towson wouldn’t go away and scored with no time left on the clock in the first half. DeFilippo registered her second score of the goal on a penalty corner on assists from teammates Alicia Vincenty and Katie Nolan. Virginia led 3-2 at halftime.
“They got two goals there in the first half and after that we reorganized,” Madison said. “Overall we settled in the second half, controlled the possession better and got more pressure on the ball.”
After an offensive battle in first half, the Cavaliers tallied the only score of the second half. Bell recorded her second score of the game in the 52nd minute on a Virginia penalty corner, with assists to senior Rachel Jennings and sophomore Carissa Vittese.
Redshirt sophomore Amanda Crider earned her first career start in the cage for Virginia and registered a save, playing the first half of the game. Freshman Jenny Johnstone played the second half and also recorded a save.
Towson goalkeeper Christina Siwiec finished with eight saves in all 70 minutes for the Tigers.
Virginia continues its road swing with a 1 p.m. contest at 12th-ranked Old Dominion Sunday in Norfolk, Va.
“ODU is definitely playing well,” Madison said. “We have to put ourselves it position to take care of our gameplan. That is what is most important at this point in the season. We have to play our game .”