CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 11 Virginia field hockey team (6-3) closed out the weekend with a 2-1 loss against No. 21 Old Dominion (6-2) on Sunday (Sept. 26) at Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

Virginia took a 1-0 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Monarchs scored two goals in a 1:43 span in the final period to pick up the 2-1 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a scoreless first period, the Cavaliers broke the deadlock 1:14 in the second quarter, scoring on what would be their only penalty corner of the game. Senior back Amber Ezechiels hit a hard, straight shot after a stick stop at the top of the circle by senior midfielder Greer Gill. The Cavalier defense limited Old Dominion to three shots in the first half, but all were on goal.

Virginia’s 1-0 score looked like it would hold until the final 10 minutes of the game. Marlon de Bruijne took off on a breakaway. After getting into the circle, she passed to a wide-open Illse Westera who converted the opportunity and tied the game. De Brujine scored what would be the game-winner 1:43 later, converting a penalty corner. ODU took three shots in the fourth quarter, scoring twice.

Virginia pulled goalkeeper Tyler Kennedy with 1:41 remaining in the game to pick up an extra attacker, but the Monarch’s defense held on for the win.

NOTES

  • Amber Ezechiels’ goal was her second of the season
  • Meghen Hengerer and Greer Gill had the assists on Ezechiels’ goal
  • Virginia held a 12-7 edge in shots
  • The two teams had a combined three penalty corners (Virginia 1, ODU 2), with the teams scoring two goals off those three corners.

FROM HEAD COACH MICHELE MADISON

“We didn’t control their hitting game. They are a big ball team. They just blast the ball down and we weren’t successful in stopping that ball. They got two opportunities and took advantage of it. 1-0 games are dangerous for you because you think you’re winning, but it’s so easy to get back into the game, which they did. Our distribution was good. We didn’t penetrate the circle, well and normally we do that, so I wasn’t happy about that. We created chances. It could have easily been five goals for us, but it just didn’t fall in.”

ON THE HORIZON

  • The Cavaliers return to conference play, taking on Duke on Friday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. at Turf Field