No. 4 Virginia Falls in ACC Quarterfinals
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Nov. 7, 2013
NEWTON, Mass. – The No. 4 Virginia field hockey team (15-5, 3-3 ACC) fell 2-1 to No. 8 Duke (14-5, 3-3 ACC) in a quarterfinal game of the ACC Field Hockey Championships.
“It was a great game that really went back-and-forth,” Virginia head coach Michele Madison said. “When we had the momentum, we really needed to put it away. We outshot them and out-cornered them, but that’s an ACC game. You need second or third shots to score on [Duke goalie] Lauren Blazing. We didn’t have those and just weren’t able to put them away.”
Duke, who was the No. 4 seed in the tournament, took a 1-0 lead 5:10 into the game, scoring on one of two shots they took in the first period. Virginia, the No. 5 seed, evened the score with just under five minutes remaining in the period when freshman Caleigh Foust (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) tapped in a long pass from senior Elly Buckley (Scarborough, Perth, Australia).
Duke took a 2-1 lead 5:35 into the second half, tapping in a loose ball in front of the net. Duke had a chance to extend its lead, earning a penalty stroke with 19 minutes left in the game, but junior goalkeeper Jenny Johnstone (Paisley, Scotland) batted down the shot.
Following the penalty stroke save, momentum seemed to take a turn in favor of the Cavaliers. During a four-minute stretch in the waning moments, Virginia recorded five shots on cage and had four corner opportunities, but failed to score the equalizer.
In an effort to ignite the offense in the final minutes, Virginia pulled Johnstone, playing without a goalie for the final 3:38 of the game.Virginia outshot Duke, 14-7, and had 10 penalty corners to the Blue Devil’s six. Johnstone had three saves. Blazing, an All-ACC second team selection, logged nine saves.
Foust’s goal was her 10th of the season. Buckley’s assist increased her ACC-leading point total to 48.
The NCAA Selection Show will be streamed live online on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on NCAA.com. The Cavaliers, who hosted first and second round games last season, advancing to the quarterfinals, will be looking for their 19th NCAA Tournament invitation.