No. 3 Virginia Wins 1-0 at No. 5 Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The No. 3 Virginia field hockey team (4-0, 0-0 ACC) won 1-0 at No. 5 Maryland (3-2, 0-0 Big Ten) on Friday (Sept. 13) at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex in College Park, Md.

Grad student Suze Leemans scored the game-winner in the fourth quarter.

Goals (Assist)

47:34 Virginia — Suze Leemans (unassisted)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game was a battle of the midfield with neither team taking a shot until the second quarter. Virginia held a 2-1 edge in shots at halftime, with the Terps finding the better chances in the third quarter, tallying two shots, neither of which was on target.

Leemans broke the deadlock 2:34 into the final period. Senior Jans Croon swept the ball from midfield into the circle. The ball deflected off a Maryland defender, careening towards Leemans at the top of the circle. She took a hard shot, finding the corner of the cage to put the Cavaliers on the board.

Maryland’s best opportunity came with 8.9 seconds remaining in the game, when it was awarded a penalty corner, but Hope Rose’s shot was wide of the target. As time was expiring, there was a scramble in front of the net, with Maryland calling for a review to see if they should be awarded a penalty corner with no time on the clock. The review decided that no corner was warranted, ending the game.

NOTES

• Suze Leemans’ goal was her fourth of the year. She is averaging 1.0 goals per game
• This was Virginia’s third ranked win of the season and first top-five victory
• Maryland played the final 5:22 of the game with an empty net
• The Terps did not have a shot on goal in the game despite having eight penalty corners

FROM HEAD COACH OLE KEUSGEN

“Absolute Team win. From the beginning, we had the right mindset and played attacking hockey. Everyone did their part today and that’s how we got the win. Go Hoos.”

ON THE HORIZON

• Virginia will take on American on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. in a neutral-site contest at Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Field
• Virginia returns home to host California in the ACC opener for both teams on Friday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m.