#9 UVA field hockey knocks off Rutgers in OT, 4-3

The No. 9 UVA field hockey team (5-2, 1-0 ACC) earned its second overtime victory of the week, defeating Rutgers (4-2, 0-0 Big Ten) by a score of 4-3 on Sunday (Sept. 14). The victory was the fourth-straight win for the team, capping a four-game home stand.

For the second-straight game, sophomore striker Caleigh Foust (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) knocked in the game winner after receiving a pass from freshman midfielder Tara Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.). Vittese sent a long pass into the circle to Foust who maneuvered the ball around the goalie 11:47 into overtime to defeat the Scarlet Knights. On Friday night against Louisville, Foust scored with an assist from Vittese 1:43 into the second overtime period.

Vittese scored the other three Cavalier goals, including converting a pair of second-half penalty strokes that erased a 3-1 deficit, to record her first career hat trick in the victory over Rutgers.

“The team showed a lot of character coming back today from that two-goal deficit,” said Virginia head coach Michele Madison. “They also showed a lot of patience and resilience. They stuck with it play by play by play until finally the ball dropped in. We had a lot of attack production and a lot of shots, but we will need to go back and see what exactly we are doing with those opportunities.”

Virginia had 34 shots in the game, with the Scarlet Knights firing off 11. Rutgers’ goalkeeper Shevaun Hayes tallied 12 saves along with the Scarlet Knights’ backs making four defensive saves. The Virginia goalkeepers combined for two saves.

Vittese gave UVa a 1-0 lead 3:04 into the game, firing off a hard shot after receiving a pass from sophomore midfielder Macy Peebles (Yorktown, Va.). Rutgers tied the game on a penalty corner midway through the first period. The Scarlet Knights took a 2-1 first-half lead when a shot by Katie Champion was initially saved by redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Rebecca Holden (Fishing Creek, N.J.), but the unsecured ball did a slow roll into the goal before a Virginia defender could get there to stop it. Rutgers third goal came on a penalty corner 3:22into the second period.

The Cavaliers earned both of their penalty strokes when Rutgers committed fouls on shot attempts by Vittese. Vittese ended the game with 11 shots, including six on goal. Sophomore midfielder Lucy Hyams (Whitstable, England) took eight shots, five on goal.

In the two games this weekend, Vittese scored four goals with three assists. Foust scored three goals, including both game winners.

Virginia returns to conference action next Friday, Sept. 19, with a 6 p.m. game at No. 4 Duke. The Cavaliers will be back at Turf Field on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. when they open a three-game home stand by hosting Albany.