No. 4 Virginia Tops No. 12 Syracuse in a Shoot Out

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 4 Virginia field hockey team (11-2, 5-1 ACC) picked up a thrilling 3-2 victory at home against No. 12 Syracuse (10-4, 4-3 ACC) on Friday (Oct.18) at Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

Sophomore midfielder Mia Abello scored the winning goal in sudden death to seal the deal for Virginia.

GOAL (Assist)
26:12 Syracuse — Berber Bakermans (Hattie Madden)
33:48 Virginia — Emma Watchilla (Unassisted)
40:57 Syracuse — Bo Kempen (Berber Bakermans, Willemijn Boogert)
56:48 Virginia — Jans Croon (Emily Field, Meghen Hengerer

Shoot Out & Sudden Death
Virginia: ✓, x, x, ✓, x, ✓, ✓
Syracuse: x, x, x, ✓, ✓, ✓, x

HOW IT HAPPENED
Syracuse broke the stalemate first with four minutes remaining in the first half of play as Berber Bakermans scored her first goal of the season. The Cavaliers responded to start the third quarter earning four consecutive corners. While unable to capitalize on the corners, Emma Watchilla wasted no time storming into the circle to score her sixth goal this season to level the scoreboard. Midway through the third quarter, the Orange regained the lead as a result of one of the team’s three total corners.

With eight minutes remaining in regulation, Virginia exchanged its goalkeeper for an extra field player. This proved affective for the Cavaliers as Jans Croon netted one for the Hoos with an assist from Emily Field and Meghan Hengerer to send the game into overtime.

After two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods, the two teams went into a shootout. Noa Boterman lead off for Virginia with a make. After five turns each, the scoreboard remained tied at two apiece. Facing off in sudden death, Mia Abello smiled at the goalkeeper before sending the ball into the back of the net for the game winning goal.

The Cavaliers fend off the No. 12 ranked Syracuse Orange in a tough battle to become 11-4 (5-1 ACC) with just one game remaining in the regular season.

FROM HEAD COACH OLE KEUSGEN
“We went into the game saying we need to have fantastic body language and presence which we did today. We played a great game. We need to convert more but the way we dominated the game with possession and circle entries, we just need to make sure we put more balls in the corner of the net.”

FROM MIA ABELLO SCORING THE GAME WINNING GOAL
“I trusted what I did before, what worked and took a deep breath, smiled at the goalie and knew my job. I saw the goalie go down, I saw an open goal and finished. It was really exciting and super happy for this team. To put this all together and have a win against a good team means a lot to this program and going forward.”

NOTES

• Nilou Lempers records her first win of the season
• Mia Abello netted her fourth goal of the season
• Emma Watchilla scored her sixth goal of the season
• Syracuse recorded just six shots with three on goal
• Virginia had a 17-6 edge in shots
• Virginia earned a total of 8 corners with four occurring consecutively

ON THE HORIZON
The Cavaliers will be back in action at Turf Field on Sunday, Oct. 20 for the final home game of the season against Miami University at 12 p.m. The Cavaliers will celebrate senior day and recognize eight seniors after the game.