Cavaliers Fall in Battle with No. 4 UConn, 2-1

Story Links

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Virginia field hockey team (6-9) fell in a hard-fought battle with No. 4 Connecticut 2-1 Sunday at Class of 1957 Stadium in Princeton, N.J. The Cavaliers led 1-0 on a Lane Smith goal in the first half, but the Huskies (12-1) scored twice in the second stanza to come away with the win.

“When games are that close you have to find a way to win and that is the only thing we didn’t do,” Virginia head coach Michele Madison said. “We did a lot of other things really well. Our defense was stellar. We have to work on creating more attack opportunities in tight situations and take advantage of the opportunities we do have.”

Virginia was outshot 12-7 for the contest, including a 7-2 UConn advantage in the second half. Both teams finished with six penalty corners.

Smith, a sophomore, put UVa up 1-0 on a Virginia penalty corner with no time left on the clock in the first half. Classmate Elly Buckley was credited with the assist after pushing the ball on the play with Smith deflecting it in.

The Cavaliers outshot UConn 6-5 in the first half and totaled five of their six penalty corners while limiting the Huskies to one corner.

Connecticut was able to tie the game in the 57th minute on a penalty corner when Chloe Hunnable put in a sweepshot on an assist from Allison Angulo. Then in the 68th minute, Marie Elena Bolles notched the game-winner for UConn on yet another penalty corner, with Hunnable credited with the assist.

Freshman goalkeeper Jenny Johnstone finished with three saves in the cage for Virginia. Connecticut’s Sarah Mansfield totaled two stops.

The Cavaliers return home Saturday for a 1 p.m. conference showdown with second-ranked North Carolina.