The No. 5 Virginia field hockey team fell 5-4 in overtime to
No. 14 Boston College Sunday. The contest was the final regular season contest
for the Cavaliers. The loss also dropped Virginia to fourth place in the
ultra-competitive ACC.
Virginia (12-4, 3-3 ACC) jumped out to an early lead, as
they peppered Golden Eagle goalie Leah Settipane with 15 first half shots,
eight of which required a save. The Cavaliers were efficient on these
opportunities as well, as three found the back of the net. Junior striker Riley
Tata tallied twice and sophomore midfielder Tara Vittese added the third to give
Virginia a 3-0 lead heading into halftime.
The Golden Eagles came out strong in the second half,
though, and scored just 1:34 into the period. Boston College scored again 15
minutes later to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to one. Tata was able to respond with
just under 10 minutes left to play to complete the second hat trick of her
career, but the rest of the game belonged to Boston College.
Virginia allowed two goals in the final 10 minutes,
including the equalizer with just over five minutes remaining. The Cavaliers
were awarded a penalty corner with 11 seconds to go, but junior midfielder Lucy
Hyams’ shot was blocked to send the game to overtime.
Boston College tallied the only shots of the overtime
period, both of which came from junior midfielder Emily McCoy. The Lancaster,
PA native put a shot on net that was saved by Cavalier junior goalkeeper
Rebecca Holden at the 2:14 mark of the extra period. The rebound, though, found
its way back to McCoy’s stick and she put the game away.
Virginia plays in-state foe James Madison in Harrisonburg,
VA Friday in its regular season finale. After the showdown with the Dukes,
which is set to begin at 6 p.m., the Cavaliers will turn their attention to the
ACC tournament, where they will be the No. 4 seed.
—compiled by Ryan
Taylor
