Through the first four quarters of a matchup between No. 19 Virginia field hockey and No. 6 Wake Forest, stagnance pervaded the field at Kentner Stadium. It was clear what was at stake — with a win, the Demon Deacons (9-5, 4-2 ACC) could prove dominance in the ACC and establish itself as a genuine postseason threat. For the Cavaliers (7-5, ACC 3-4), it would mean clawing back into contention after losses to No. 20 California and an unranked Boston College.
One goal from first year forward Caitlin Connell would tip the scales less than five minutes into overtime to decide the 1-0 score. A ball from the endline lifted into the far post net and just past sophomore keeper Ruby Butterfield would be the first overtime goal scored by a first-year in eight years.
“We showed incredible mentality in every aspect of the game,” Coach Ole Keusgen said. “A huge win for us to build momentum at the end of the season.”
But the first 60 minutes of play would show a Virginia team holding their ground and on their guard, with a renewed composure coming off of slews of yellow cards and contact calls against Boston College a week prior. Throughout the first quarter, the possession game would remain tightly contested, with the Cavaliers and Wake Forest making use of space and narrowly bypassing defenders.
Fourth-year forward Mia Abello, second-year back Lauren Sloan and first-year midfielder Marisa Fahning held a strong back line with a man-to-man defense as the Virginia offense again struggled to break into the circle decisively, fighting in vain for penalty corners.
Demon Deacon sophomore back Reabetswe Phume and junior midfielder Brooke Bettencourt were also stalwarts on defense as Wake Forest contained open space in the circle, but the Cavaliers would remain energetic and hustled even as shots went wide or opportunities slipped out of reach.
Virginia’s sole corner of the match, an unusual circumstance for a team averaging 5.25 per game this season, was another uncharacteristic instance of bad reception of the inserted ball. Regardless, Abello got a quick shot off from a redirection.
Another flurry of back-and-forth possession ensued as both teams tried to break the other down, and a straight shot from Demon Deacon senior midfielder Ava Moore summoned fourth-year keeper Nilou Lempers to step up for a block, one of her two saves on the day and her first shutout of the season. Butterfield would also prove a presence in goal with four saves, knocking away shots at all angles and making another case for a keepers’ potential to decide a match.
A Wake Forest five-corner gauntlet in the third quarter pushed the Cavalier defense to the brink —- Virginia would lose video review leverage to contest penalty corner calls, but the Demon Deacons would only manage three shots on goal. As time dwindled, play grew increasingly intense ahead of the fourth quarter, with the chance of a one-goal match becoming clearer and clearer.
The last of regulation would yield more of the same as the possession game resumed, with the Cavaliers slipping on offense as connections to the circle were blocked by Wake Forest. With 90 seconds left, Connell took control of a pass from the midfield, sprinting into the circle for a final attempt at escaping a stalemate. A hit from the top of the circle slammed into Butterfield’s glove for a save, followed by a last second drag flick shot from second-year midfielder Bella Moore which was again denied.
Virginia would keep those two rebuttals in mind as a sudden-victory overtime period ensued. Despite initial contention, the Cavaliers bullied their way into the circle, with Abello sending a ball from the backfield for a midfield transfer and finally connecting with Connell at the endline.
Tapping the ball over her defender, Connell would run the line and flick a shot for the winning goal. It was fitting for the same player who notched her first goal, another game-winner in a Sept. 11 victory over Liberty, to prove Virginia could still pose a threat to some of the conference’s deepest teams.
Friday night’s win marked a return to order reminiscent of the 2025 season, and brought the Cavaliers’ overtime record to 2-1 ahead of their final two games at home. No. 20 Monmouth will try their hand in Charlottesville Sunday in a nonconference matchup, but will still demand Virginia to keep their foot on the gas as the postseason nears.
Adair Reid is the newsletter editor for the 137th term of The Cavalier Daily, former humor editor for the 136th term and staff writer on the sports desk. She is a fourth-year College student, majoring in English and Media Studies. She is from Richmond and enjoys writing about the University’s Olympic sports teams and the changing landscape of college athletics.
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