No. 9 Virginia Rallies For a 3-2 Win against No. 13 Saint Joseph's

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 9 Virginia field hockey team (4-3, 0-1 ACC) picked up a 3-2 victory against No. 13 Saint Joseph’s (4-3, 1-0 A10) on Sunday (Sept. 18) at Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

The Cavaliers trailed 2-0, but scored three goals in the second half to secure the victory. Senior Adele Iacobucci scored the game-winner. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hawks struck midway through the first period with Celeste Smits scoring a second-chance goal after an initial shot off a corner was saved but remained free in front of the net. The Cavaliers, who only managed two shots in the first half, went into the break down 1-0.

Saint Joseph’s added a second goal 4:24 into the second half, with Haily Bitters tipping in a shot after another penalty corner.

The 2-0 deficit ignited the Cavalier offense. UVA took eight shots in the third quarter, two finding their target. Freshman Dani Mendez-Trendler made it a 2-1 game with a second-chance goal after a penalty corner with four minutes left in the period. Senior Laura Janssen tied the game three minutes later, deflecting in a hard shot from sophomore Taryn Tkachuk.

Three minutes into the final period, Mendez-Trendler drew another penalty corner for the Cavaliers, their sixth of the game. Sophomore Jans Croon swept the ball from the top of the circle, finding Iacobucci’s outstretched stick. The ball deflected into the corner of the net to give UVA the 3-2 advantage.

Saint Joseph’s played the final five minutes of the game with an empty net, but did not take a shot.

Freshman goalkeeper Jet Trimborn picked up a win in her first career start.

NOTES

• Virginia held a 12-5 edge in shots, outshooting SJU 10-1 in the second half
• Laura Janssen’s goal is her team-leading sixth of the year
• Jans Croon and Taryn Tkachuk were credited with assists
• Freshman Caroline Nemec also made her first collegiate start
• Jet Trimborn made one save
• Robin Bleekemolen made four saves for Saint Joseph’s

FROM HEAD COACH MICHELE MADISON

“In the second half, we attacked the outsides of the field where the space was. Emily Field really started us off with an overlapping run into the circle that just gave the team a lot of energy to get a corner from that and a goal. Then they just fed off each other and got the energy going.”

“This is a big win because Friday was so disappointing because we know we could have won that game and we let one get away. To overcome that disappointment emotionally it’s almost harder than overcoming just the actual hockey. The team showed their resiliency and determination and they found a way to do it against a very difficult team to play against.”

 ON THE HORIZON

• The Cavaliers return to ACC action next weekend, hosting No. 10 Syracuse on Friday, Sept. 23 at 4 p.m.