Following its first back-to-back regular season losses since 2011, the No. 6 Virginia field hockey team (2-2) wanted — and perhaps needed — a win in its home opener against No. 7 Princeton.
Fittingly, the Cavaliers dominated Sunday at University Hall Turf Field in a 6-4 victory.
“Coming off of two losses where we dominated our opponents in the stats, we just kept trying to build on that, and build our game in the areas we need to fix to win the game,” coach Michele Madison said.
“It was great,” sophomore striker Riley Tata said. “The last time we played [Princeton] was in the NCAAs, so it’s a big win for us. … We were ready to win on our first home game, so it was really awesome.”
The Cavalier offense ruled the first half, the majority of time spent in the Tigers’ territory. Virginia scored three of its six goals in the opening stanza — the first coming from Tata only 2:22 into the game.
Virginia’s six goals came from six different scorers, including Tata, who had her fourth tally of the season. Sophomore striker Caleigh Foust scored 1:31 into the second half, tying Tata as the Cavaliers’ leading scorer in 2014. Senior back Maddie DeCerbo, freshman midfielder Tara Vittese, sophomore midfielder Lucy Hyams and sophomore midfielder-striker Emilia Tapsall all recorded their first goals of the season, with Vittese’s goal marking her first in collegiate play.
“A plethora of girls scored today, and that was such a good feeling that it wasn’t just one individual scoring all the goals — it was a midfielder, it was a forward and it was just great passes that led up to the goal[s],” Tata said.
The list of scorers — all sophomores or younger with the exception of DeCerbo — highlights the precocious talent of Madison’s squad.
The defense also proved strong in the first half, shutting out the Tigers despite eight shots, four of which were saved by senior goalkeeper Jenny Johnstone. Johnstone played the entire game, registering seven saves.
The Princeton squad, however, fired back in the second half — scoring four goals, three of which came within 15 minutes. Senior striker Sydney Kirby, a three-time All-Ivy League selection, found the back of the net twice in that time frame.
“The second half, Princeton brought it on and really attacked us,” Madison said. “We weren’t able to get the same kind of pressure on their backfield, so they could look up and pick their passes. … They are a good team, so I knew they would come back.”
When asked about the performance of her team in their victory, Madison said she was impressed by her players’ passing.
She also said the win was important for the games to come.
“[Grabbing] this game today … will give them confidence that they needed to move forward more with how they played the game,” Madison said.
Still, Tata said the Cavaliers cannot afford the complacency which often comes after beating a fellow top-10 team.
“We still have a lot of work ahead of us,” Tata said. “Each game we learn something else, but a first home game kind of gives us the confidence to do this. … I think we are ready for the next one, but we do have a lot of work ahead of us.”
This upcoming Tuesday, the Cavaliers will face off at home against Miami (Ohio) at 1 p.m. at Turf Field. The Redhawks are 0-4 this season, coming off of a 3-1 loss Sunday at College Park against the No. 1 Maryland Terrapins.
When asked where Virginia must improve before Tuesday, Madison had an answer ready.
“Just always communication and pressing,” Madison said. “You never know how a team is going to play this early in the season.”
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