Virginia's Late Rally Falls Short Against Maryland
Oct. 17, 2017
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 3 Virginia field hockey team (12-3, 4-1 ACC) fell 5-4 to No. 12 Maryland (11-5, 5-2 Big Ten) on Tuesday (Oct. 17) at University Hall Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.
Maryland held a 5-1 lead, but the Cavaliers rallied in the final 12 minutes of the game, including scoring two goals in the final two minutes, to make it a 5-4 game. Virginia was on attack in the final 30 seconds of the game, but the Terrapin defense held tight and preserved the victory.
Four different Cavaliers scored goals for the Cavaliers with senior Nadine de Koning (Laren, Netherlands) logging two assists.
Maryland held a 10-4 shot advantage in the first half, netting four of its goals in the period. In the second half, the shot differential narrowed to an 11-9 Maryland advantage. UVA had an 8-6 edge in penalty corners.
Junior Izzy McDonough (Kennett Square, Pa.) gave UVA a 1-0 lead when she scored a second-chance goal less than five minutes into the contest. Maryland tied the game three minutes later with Linnea Gonzales scoring on the Terrapins’ first shot of the game. The Terps added two more goals, both coming off corners, to lead 3-1 with 4:28 remaining in the first half. Melissa Wilken added a fourth score with under two minutes left in the period to give Maryland a 4-1 edge at the break. Maryland added its fifth goal 14 minutes into the second half, going up 5-1.
Junior Greta Ell (Plains, Pa.) started UVA’s comeback with 11:14 remaining in the game when she pushed a slow-rolling pass from freshman Pien Dicke (Den Haag, Netherlands) into the net. Sophomore Dominique van Slooten (Laren, Netherlands) cut further into the deficit by scoring on a penalty corner with 1:47 remaining. Senior Tara Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) made it a one-goal game 43 seconds later when she scored off of another penalty corner.
The Cavaliers pulled their goalie in the final minute, giving themselves an extra attacker. Virginia got possession of the ball after the restart and pushed ahead, getting the ball down inside the 25, but Maryland’s defense held on for the victory.
Redshirt junior Carrera Lucas (Brooklandville, Md.) played the first half in goal, making four saves while allowing four goals. Freshman Lauren Hausheer (West Windsor, N.J.) played the second half in goal, stopping five shots while allowing one goal. Maryland’s Sarah Holliday made five saves.
The game was Virginia’s final home contest of the regular season. The Cavaliers’ seniors were honored in an on-field ceremony right after the conclusion of the game including Vittese, de Koning and Becca Zamojcin (Phoenixville, Pa.).
The Cavaliers will play their final three regular-season games on the road beginning this weekend with back-to-back matches on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 12 p.m. at No. 11 Louisville and Sunday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. at Miami (Ohio). Virginia concludes the regular-season on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. at Old Dominion.