The Virginia field hockey kept its 27-game — now 28-game — unbeaten streak against Virginia Commonwealth alive as the Cavaliers trounced the Rams 3-0 last night at the University Hall Turf Field.
The Cavaliers (7-1) also extended their home winning streak to seven games. The shutout was the third of the season recorded by the tandem of senior goalkeeper Amy Desjadon and sophomore goalkeeper Devon Burnley.
The Cavaliers controlled the game from the first whistle. Despite a stout defensive showing from VCU, Virginia was able to find the back of the net three times. The Cavaliers outshot the Rams 17-1 and out-cornered them 6-1.
Virginia’s first goal came just three minutes into the game. Regardless of VCU senior goalkeeper Laura Baker’s impressive 0.789 save percentage, which ranks her 14th in the country, the Cavaliers were able to toy with the experienced senior. She was, however, able to come up with nine saves in the losing effort.
Senior midfield/back Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn led the way with two goals, giving her five on the year, and freshman midfielder/forward Paige Selenski was able to find the back of the net for a team-leading sixth time this season. For most of the night, the Cavalier offensive attack was running on all cylinders.
At some points during the game, however, the Cavaliers did not seem very patient as they hastily pushed the ball down the field instead of working it around and finding a good shot.
“We can play better than we did,” redshirt freshman midfielder Pien Hulsebosch said. “Even though sometimes you don’t play the best teams, you just have to keep going and going.”
During the Cavaliers’ mostly dominating performance against the Rams, the players were able improve their individual games and work on certain aspects that will help them in the future, such as being a more cohesive team on the field.
“We were able to possess the ball and we tried another press today,” Virginia coach Michele Madison said. “They were more of a unit than they have been in the past.”
The Cavaliers will wrap up their four-game home stand playing Ohio University Sunday at 1 p.m.
Virginia will have to play without freshman midfielder Michelle Vittese, who has an undisclosed injury that has held her out of the past few games. Vittese is tied for third on the team in goals. Someone will likely step up and fill the void in Madison’s everyone-plays system.
The Bobcats are winless at 0-3 all-time against the Cavaliers. The last matchup between the two teams was in 2006 when Ohio fell to Virginia 3-1.
Virginia will be looking to extend its home winning streak to eight games, while the Bobcats will be looking to even their 2-3 record on the season. Ohio’s subpar record has partly manifested itself because of a grueling schedule. Ohio has lost to James Madison, Ohio State, and Louisville, all of which are ranked. Virginia also fell 1-0 to JMU, though the Cavaliers took that game into double overtime.
Before the Bobcats come to Charlottesville, they will have to battle yet another tough opponent in No. 1 Wake Forest tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Indeed, the recurring theme in field hockey seems to be the ACC. Five of the top 10 teams in the country, including Virginia, are from the ACC, so Virginia has a grueling schedule of its own coming up. With so many good teams, it is hard to tell who is the best.
“Wake Forest is putting up the wins,” Madison said. Big East team “Syracuse is putting up the wins. Syracuse beat Maryland. I think it’s anyone’s game; I think it’s wide open. Conference play will tell.”
Madison seems to feel she couldn’t be in a better situation at Virginia despite the tough competition the Cavaliers face. She has athletes who love to compete and constantly want to get better.
“This is the best team to coach,” Madison said.
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