Big Fourth Quarter Propels No. 4 Virginia into NCAA Quarterfinals
Virginia scored three goals in the fourth quarter to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals where they will face Maryland on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 4 Virginia field hockey team (17-4, 4-2 ACC) opened play at the 2019 NCAA Field Hockey Championship with a 4-1 victory over No. 10 Delaware (16-4, 6-0 CAA) on Friday (Nov. 15) at Turf Field in Charlottesville.
The game was tied 1-1 with 11 minutes remaining in regulation before Virginia’s offense scored three fourth-quarter goals.
Virginia’s seniors netted three of the team’s four goals, with striker Erin Shanahan (Pasadena, Md.) scoring the game’s first, back Anzel Viljoen (Matamata, New Zealand) scoring the game-winner and midfielder Colleen Norair (Fredericksburg, Va.) adding the fourth and final.
Virginia will face No. 3 Maryland (17-3, 7-1 Big Ten) on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Maryland scored four second-half goals to down No. 14 Saint Joseph’s (17-4, 8-0 Atlantic 10) 4-0 in the second game of the day at Turf Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia took a 1-0 lead in the first quarter after a shot from sophomore striker Peyton Tollaksen (Chesapeake, Va.) was initially saved, but Shanahan picked up the rebound and lifted it into the corner of the net. The 1-0 advantage held until Delaware’s Bo van Hunnki hooked in a shot from the left side of the net with five minutes left in the half. Delaware had a prime opportunity in the third quarter when UVA had two players issued green cards and the Blue Hens had a two-man advantage, but the Virginia defense withstood the threat. In the fourth quarter, Viljoen tipped in a shot off a penalty corner from sophomore midfielder Amber Ezechiels (Niew-Vennep, Netherlands) to give UVA a 2-1 lead with 11 minutes remaining. Sophomore midfielder Greer Gill (Virginia Beach, Va.) pushed the advantage out to 3-1 after scoring on a loose ball after a save with 3:03 remaining. A minute later, Norair scored her first goal of the year, knocking in another loose ball that had bounced to her off a Delaware stick.
FROM HEAD COACH MICHELE MADISON
“The team carried out our game plan to perfection. We had a ten minute lapse in the game where we lost control. Between the third and fourth period, I told them to get the hunger back, put the pressure on the ball and to step it up, and they did it. In the fourth quarter, Delaware had to take chances to try to get the ball. We were able to get around and get in behind them and find the open corner. This team has worked for each other since the first game. They have played for each other all year in long. They believe and they just want to make it happen for each other.”
NOTES
- The victory head coach Michele Madison’s 200th win at Virginia. She reached 400 overall wins earlier this season in a game at Syracuse (Sept. 20). She has a career rmark of 200-100 at UVA
- This is the 13th time in program history that the team has advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Their last trip to the quarterfinals came in 2016. They are looking to advance to the semifinals for the fifth time in program history. Their last trip to the semis came in 2010
- Virginia held an 18-7 edge in shots and 7-2 in penalty corners
- Virginia held a 10-2 edge in shots at halftime
- Redshirt sophomore goalie Lauren Hausheer (West Windsor, N.J.) tallied four saves, with three of those coming in the fourth quarter. Sydney Rhodes made seven saves for Delaware
- Viljoen’s goal was her seventh of the season. She leads the team with 25 points
- Shanahan’s goal was her fifth of the season. Gill’s goal was her second
- Ezechiels and Gallen were both credited with an assist
Tickets and Parking Info for Sunday’s Game
- All seats at the Turf Field for the games will be general admission with tickets priced at $5. Students also must pay $5 for tickets to NCAA field hockey events. Children under two are free. If a child has celebrated their second birthday they must have a paid admission. Tickets will only be available for purchase on the day of game and sales will be cash only
- Free parking is available at the Emmet/Ivy Garage
- There will be a $5 parking fee at the John Paul Jones Arena South lot and the McCue Center lot