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No. 8 Virginia Opens Season With 4-3 Overtime Win
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Aug. 24, 2012
PHILADELPHIA –
Eighth-ranked Virginia opened the 2012 season with a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory at Temple.
Temple got on the scoreboard early, netting a goal 7:34 into the game. They held that same 1-0 advantage through the entire first half.
Just over five minutes into the second half, Elly Buckley (Jr., Scarborough Perth, Australia), the Cavaliers’ leading scorer last season, rocketed a pass from Rachel Sumfest (So., Lewisburg, Pa.) into the goal to tie the game, 1-1.
Just over ten minutes later, Buckley took a Sumfest insertion on a penalty corner and knocked it into the net for the Cavaliers’ second goal of the game.
Five minutes later, it was Sumfest and Buckley again, this time Sumfest scoring. Buckley took a shot, with the ball shooting off the goalie’s pads and right to Sumfest, who knocked in the rebound.
The Hoos held a 3-1 lead with three minutes left in the game. The Owls took advantage of a penalty corner, knocking in a goal with 2:30 left in the game.
The two teams had barely broken from the reset after the goal when Amber Yountz of Temple came up with a ball after a scramble in front of the net and scored to tie the game, 3-3, with 1:30 remaining.
The Cavaliers started overtime short a player with Buckley sitting out the first 44 seconds of play while finishing off a green card penalty. Temple failed to capitalize on the man-advantage. Once the Hoos were back to full strength, they took control of the overtime period.
Just under 10 minutes into the 15-minute extra frame, the Hoos got three shots at goal in rapid succession, but could not find the net.
Two minutes later, Sumfest got a breakaway, racing down the field ahead of the defense. She took on the goalie one-on-one and won the showdown, popping the ball into the net to give the Cavaliers the 4-3 victory.
“It was just great to start the season,” said head coach Michele Madison. “Temple came out firing on all cylinders. They were going forward really fast. It took us time to adjust to that kind of game. I think the team agrees that the player of the game is Chloe Pendlebury. We had to play her out of position. She was key, coming up with big plays back there, as did Kelsey LeBlancat the end. The defense, it wasn’t easy for them, but they held tight.”
Buckley led the team with six shots. She had two goals and an assist. Sumfest had three shots, scoring two goals with two assists.
Jenny Johnstone(So., Paisley, Scotland) played the entire game, making three saves.
The team played shorthanded with Paige Selenski (R-Sr.,Shavertown, Pa.) and Michelle Vittese (R-Sr., Cherry Hill, N.J.) having to sit out the game because of an NCAA rule. Both will return to action against Penn State.
“On Sunday, we need to establish our rhythm,” Madison said. “The first game, you get the jitters out. We just have to try to pick up the momentum, We’ll get Paige and Michelle back into the game, doing what they do well, and just try to get back to playing our game.”
The Cavaliers (1-0) finish off their season-opening road trip on Sunday, Aug. 26, when they take on Penn State in University Park, Pa. The game begins at 12 p.m. Live stats will be available for the game.