No. 16 Virginia Finishes Weekend with a 4-1 Win Against Drexel

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 16 Virginia field hockey team (10-6) closed out a stretch of four games in eight days with a 4-1 victory against Drexel (5-13) on Sunday (Oct. 24) at Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

Virginia held a 2-0 lead at halftime, but the Dragons scored off a penalty corner in the third period halving Cavalier advantage. Anneloes Knol added a third goal in the fourth quarter followed by a converted penalty stroke by Rachel Robinson to close out the game.

Drexel’s goalkeeper Megan Hadfield logged 15 saves as Virginia’s offense fired off 31 shots.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cavaliers scored just over three minutes into the contest, with Amber Ezechiels converting a penalty corner. Noa Boterman scored a goal two minutes before the end of the first half, picking up a rebound after her initial shot was saved and sending the second attempt into the goal.

The Dragons scored on a penalty corner, just one of two they had in the game, 4:21 into the second half. Virginia went on an attacking frenzy in the fourth quarter, firing off 12 shots. Anneloes Knol had a good look at the goal midway through the fourth quarter, firing off a shot that was saved by Hadfield. Knol stuck with the play, found the ball as it bounced off the pads and sailed a shot over the goalie’s shoulder and into the back of the net. Robinson’s penalty stroke came with just over two minutes left in the game, building the Cavalier lead to 4-1.

NOTES

• Virginia held a 31-5 advantage in shots (19 were on goal)
• UVA goalie Tyler Kennedy logged three saves
• Knol and Robinson’s goals were their first of the season
• Ezechiels’ goal was her team-leading seventh of the year
• Boterman’s goal was her fifth of the season and her second this week after also scoring against Syracuse

FROM HEAD COACH MICHELE MADISON

“Four games in eight days. We were tested. The schedule wasn’t in our favor but  I believe it’s important to compete this time of year… grow our game- and we did that today. We will only have pressure situations moving forward and we showed, today under fatigue conditions, we will keep fighting. The will was our power!”

ON THE HORIZON

• Virginia closes out the regular season by hosting No. 10 North Carolina on Friday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. at Turf Field