No. 14 Virginia Wins 5-2 Against James Madison

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 14 Virginia field hockey team (5-9) picked up a 5-2 victory against James Madison (1-1) in both teams’ lone non-conference game of the 2020-21 season played on Sunday (March 21) at Turf Field in Charlottesville.

Virginia built up a 4-0 advantage. After James Madison scored back-to-back goals early in the fourth quarter, UVA regained its momentum with the second goal of the day by sophomore midfielder Adele Iacobucci (Malvern, Pa.).

Junior back Amber Ezechiels (Niew-Vennep, Netherlands) had a goal and two assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia got on the board in the final minute of the first quarter when junior midfielder Peyton Tollaksen (Chesapeake, Va.) took advantage of the JMU keeper being out of the cage, knocking in a pass from freshman Anneloes Knol (Utrecht, Netherlands) into the empty net.

Ezechiels made it a 2-0 advantage in the second quarter when she converted a penalty stroke, the advantage UVA still held at the break.

In the third quarter, UVA twice scored off penalty corners, both off deflections after hits from the top of the circle by Ezechiels. Iacobucci scored the first one with 10:34 remaining in the period while junior midfielder Annie McDonough (Kennett Square, Pa.) redirected the second with 5:39 remaining.

The Dukes found their offense in the fourth quarter, scoring off of back-to-back penalty corners in the first three minutes of the period to half the deficit.

JMU had another prime scoring opportunity midway through the fourth when the Cavaliers had players issued back-to-back yellow cards, giving the Dukes a two-player-up advantage. It was Virginia that scored, however, with Iacobucci scoring on a breakaway to make it a 5-2 game.

NOTES

• Adele Iacobucci has scored six goals this season
• Amber Ezechiels now has 12 points with three goals and six assists
• Virginia held a 15-9 advantage in shots
• JMU held a 5-4 edge in penalty corners
• Lauren Hausheer made two saves for the Cavaliers
• JMU’s Brandley Heinbaugh made three saves, JMU also had two defensive saves

FROM HEAD COACH MICHELE MADISON

“It is always good to get an in-state win. We passed the ball well around the JMU pressure and were able to attack through the midfield which created significant scoring opportunities. We went on our belly for the goals today! A tough Defensive Back Four – Amber [Ezechiels], Cato [Geusgens], Dani [Danielle Husar], Mak [Makayla Gallen] and [goalkeeper] Lauren Hausheer held off the aggressive Dukes until the fourth quarter with stellar teamwork. Makayla, who made the move from striker to defense this spring, continues to impress with her domination of the right side.”

ON THE HORIZON

• Virginia plays at No. 13 Wake next Saturday (March 27) before returning home to host No. 15 Boston College on Friday, April 2 at 2 p.m.