Virginia Breaks Scoring Record in Victory

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Aug. 31, 2012

Video Highlights | Final Stats

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The No. 8 Virginia field hockey team broke the program record for most goals scored in a single game with a 14-0 victory over Towson. Elly Buckley and Paige Selenski each scored four goals in the contest.

Paige Selenski (R-Sr., Shavertown, Pa.) set the tone of the game early, dribbling around the circle and outmaneuvering several defenders to flick the ball into the net 50 seconds into the game.

Elizabeth Hanks (Jr., Hummelstown, Pa.) put the Cavaliers up, 2-0, just under eight minutes later. Hanks carried the ball into the left side of the circle, found an open shot from the top, and smashed it in for the first goal of her career.

Midway through the first half, Rachel Sumfest (So. Lewisburg, Pa.) scored the first of her two goals, taking advantage of a rebound off the goalie’s pads to put Virginia up 3-0.

The Cavaliers led 7-0 at the break with 26 first-half shots.

The second half began in the same manner as the first with Sumfest scoring 3:26 into the period, taking a cross from Selenski and knocking it in.

Michelle Vittese (R-Sr., Cherry Hill, N.J.) scored her first goal of the season, knocking in a deflection off the goalie’s pads off an initial shot by Sumfest. Her goal, at the 53:22 mark, made it a 12-0 game. A minute and a half later, Sarah Weber connected for her first goal of the season, also cleaning a deflection off the keeper’s pads after a scramble in front of the net to give the Cavaliers a 13-0 lead.

Selenski closed out the scoring with her fourth goal of the game, using fancy stick work in front of the goal and then taking a shot into the right side of the net.

It was the second time in Selenski’s career she had a four-goal game and the sixth time in her career she has registered a hat trick. She also had a hat trick in Wednesday’s 6-1 victory over Richmond. Selenski had two assists in addition to the four goals, giving her ten points, just the fifth time in program history that a player has had ten or more points in a single game.

Elly Buckley (Jr., Scarborough Perth, Australia) also had a four-goal game, the second time in her career she netted four goals in a single game. Buckley scored three goals off penalty corners and a field goal that came with Buckley knocking a rebound off the goalkeeper into the net in the first half.

“It felt awesome,” said Buckley. “It was a total team effort. We played really well as a team.”

The 14 goals scored by the team was the largest single-game total in program history. The previous record of 13 had been reached three times, most recently in the 1996 season when Virginia defeated both Davidson and Davis & Elkins by 13-0 margins.

“We were just really focused on keeping our game plan and really finding the discipline and concentration to stay focused on what we need to do to be a better team,” said head coach Michele Madison. “With our short game today, we really passed the ball well and let the ball do the work. We didn’t choose to take the big ball, because it is easy, but really work through midfield. We were also able to get playing time for a lot of people, clearing our bench. It was a total team effort.”

Virginia took 44 shots, 29 on goal. Towson’s goalie, Tashani Dickson, made 15 saves, including 11 in the first half.

For the Cavaliers, freshman Rebecca Holden (Fishing Creek, N.J.) started in goal and earned the win, improving to 1-1 on the season. Amanda Crider (Sr. Vienna, Va.) also saw action, logging a pair of saves.

The Cavaliers close out the current homestand on Sunday, Sept. 2 when they host No. 3 Old Dominion at 1 p.m. at Turf Field. Admission is free for all regular-season home games.