The Virginia field hockey team extended its home winning streak to eight Sunday with a 2-1 overtime victory against Ohio.
Junior forward Traci Ragukas and freshman midfielder Paige Selenski led the way with a goal each. Selenksi’s goal, her team-leading seventh on the season, came in overtime, a few minutes after she missed a wide-open shot that would have ended the game.
“She did everything right,” Virginia coach Michele Madison said. “Everything we work on except put it in the goal. She redeemed herself with more her style of hockey with a big hit from the outside.”
The tone was set from the beginning, when the Bobcats put the first goal of the game in the cage. After Ohio scored, the Cavaliers became a little anxious on offense and could not capitalize on any opportunities. Despite being unranked, Ohio did not seem intimidated playing the No. 8 team in the country.
“Ohio definitely flustered us and got under our skin a little bit,” senior goalkeeper Amy Desjadon said. “They are a really good block tackling team, and that is something we need to work on.”
The Bobcats had just come off a 4-0 loss to Wake Forest Saturday. Despite the Bobcats’ 2-4 record coming into the game, the Cavaliers did not take their opponent lightly.
“You have to take every team for what they are worth because every dog has their day,” Desjadon said. “If you are on top, everyone wants to take you down.”
The Bobcats were able to hang with the Cavaliers in the first half. When the second half opened, however, Virginia showed its resilience and came out with renewed confidence. The Cavaliers were able to wear down the Ohio defense, outcornering the Bobcats 14-2 and outshooting them 21-2. The Cavalier defense only allowed two shots on the day, one of which found the back of the net. Despite the loss, Ohio’s senior goalkeeper Jessie Martin recorded 12 saves, denying the Cavaliers many opportunities to score.
This matchup was a good test for the Cavaliers, who will play their conference opener against Boston College Friday.
“I think we definitely have the talent,” Desjadon said. “We have to know not to take anyone for granted. We have the skill but you need to be able to back it up all day every day.”
The Cavaliers will have to move on without freshman midfielder Michelle Vittese for the next couple of weeks while she recovers from an injury. Because of Vittese’s injury, she also will not be able compete in the Pan American games in Mexico City with the Junior National Team this fall. Her presence on the field will be missed, considering she is currently fourth on the team in points.
“If you have a real team then people around step up, and that’s what it’s time for everyone else to do, step up and contribute,” Madison said. “It took a while to adjust to. [Sophomore midfielder] Haley [Carpenter] stepped it up in the Kent game. [Freshman back] Rachel [Jennings] stepped it up today. Other players will step up and fill the hole that she left.”
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