No. 3 Virginia Tops Cal 4-3 in ACC Opener

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 3 Virginia field hockey team (6-0, 1-0 ACC) opened conference play with a 4-3 victory against Cal (4-1, 0-1 ACC) on Friday, Sept. 20 at Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

Junior midfielder Daniela Mendez-Trendler scored twice for the Cavaliers.

Goals (Assist)
16:40 Virginia — Lilly Hengerer (Jans Croon)
22:45 California – Liz Klompmaker (unassisted)
31:47 Virginia – Daniela Mendez-Trendler (unassisted)
34:46 Virginia – Taryn Tkachuk (unassisted)
48:16 Virginia – Daniela Mendez-Trendler (unassisted)
52:42 California – Maya Hoepfner (Pauline Lingnau, Canisha van Duyn)
60:00 California – Liz Klompmaker (Pauline Lingnau, Canisha van Duyn)

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a scoreless first period, Virginia was awarded a penalty corner 1:40 into the second quarter, with grad student Lilly Hengerer deflecting in a shot from senior Jans Croon to put UVA ahead 1-0. Cal’s Liz Klompmaker tied the game with a scorching shot 7:45 into the period. The 1-1 score held through the remainder of the first half.

Mendez-Trendler opened the second half by dribbling into the circle and sailing the ball over the keeper’s shoulder and into the net 1:47 into the period. Senior Taryn Tkachuk made it a 3-1 game with a chip shot three minutes later. Mendez-Trendler added her second goal 3:16 into the fourth quarter to put UVA up 4-1.

The Golden Bears narrowed the gap, scoring on a penalty corner with 7:18 remaining. Cal was awarded a penalty corner with seven seconds left in the game, with Klompmaker scoring to put the final score at 4-3.

NOTES

• This was Cal’s first conference game as a member of the ACC
• Lilly Hengerer and Taryn Tkachuk’s goals were their first of the season
• Daniela Mendez-Trendler has scored three goals in the last two games, including the last two game-winners
• 11 different players have scored a goal for the Cavaliers this season
• Cal and Virginia each took 13 shots. Cal had a 7-3 edge in penalty corners
• Tyler Kennedy made three saves. Tina Jolly had six saves for Cal, all in the first half.
• Cassidy Puleo had a defensive save for the Bears
• Virginia’s 6-0 start is its best start to a season since starting the 2013 season at 7-0

FROM HEAD COACH OLE KEUSGEN

“It was a very tough, physical game for us. With a few players out, we were on a very short rotation with our players, so there was a tough, physical load on the entire team. We found good attacking situations at times, but really, most of the time, we didn’t finish. We played a little hesitant, we kind of slowed down after we went up 4-1.”

ON THE HORIZON

• Virginia closes the homestand by hosting Stanford on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m.