No. 9 Virginia Edged 3-2 at No. 1 Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. – The No. 9 Virginia field hockey team (3-2, 0-0 ACC) suffered a 3-2 loss to the reigning NCAA champions, No. 1 Northwestern (6-0, 0-0 Big Ten), on Sunday (Sept. 11) at Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill.

Virginia fell into a 2-0 deficit after the Wildcats scored on their first two penalty corner chances, but a goal by senior Laura Janssen cut the lead in half. Trailing 3-1 in the fourth quarter, senior Cato Geusgens scored off a penalty corner with six minutes left in the game to pull UVA back to within one, but the Wildcats held on for the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Northwestern earned its 2-0 advantage after Bente Baekers scored their two corner goals, the first in the first quarter followed by a strike three minutes into the second period. Janssen puts the Cavaliers on the board a minute later, firing off a hot shot on goal that pinged off the cage. She corralled her own rebound and fired again, this time finding the corner of the net.

Northwestern added to its 2-1 lead 3:39 into the second half.

In the fourth quarter, freshman Caroline Nemec drew a foul in the circle to earn a penalty corner, setting up the Geusgens goal.

Virginia pulled its goalie for the final 2:52 of play, but could not score the equalizer.

Sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Kennedy matched her career high with eight saves.

NOTES

• The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes because of lightning in the area and was played in a steady rain the entire game
• Northwestern held a 17-11 edge in shots and a 6-5 advantage in corners
• Virginia snapped a streak of three-straight Northwestern shutouts
• Northwestern’s Bente Baekers leads the nation in scoring. Her two goals were her 11^th and 12^th of the season
• Laura Janssen’s goal was her team-best fifth of the season
• Cato Geusgen’s goal was the first for the defender since her freshman season
• Northwestern won the program’s first NCAA title last year

FROM HEAD COACH MICHELE MADISON

“We had opportunities to win the game. To have those opportunities against the number one team in the country is just a credit to the entire team’s attack and defense and their mentality to win it. And their mentality to do it together.”

ON THE HORIZON

• Virginia opens conference play by traveling to No. 20 Boston College on Friday, Sept. 16. The match begins at 4 p.m.
• The Cavaliers return home to host No. 12 Saint Joseph’s on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m. That match will be televised on the ACC Network