Field hockey: #4 UVA tops #7 Duke, 4-2

The No. 4 UVA field hockey team (7-0, 2-0 ACC) earned a 4-2 victory over No. 7 Duke (4-3, 0-2 ACC) on Friday (Sept. 18) at University Hall Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

Virginia scored all four of its goals in the first half, with junior Riley Tata (Virginia Beach, Va.) contributing two. Junior Lucy Hyams (Whitstable, England) scored a goal and also had two assists.

Virginia, one of five unbeaten teams remaining in the country, improved to 7-0 with the victory.

“Before the game, we talked about how both teams had so many talented players and we were going to try to be the best team out there,” said Virginia head coach Michele Madison. “We had great moments of showing that, especially in the first half. In the second half, Duke came back, which we knew would happen. Duke was always in this game, up until the very end. It was a really entertaining game and great one for spectators. Thanks to all of the fans that came out tonight and supported us.”

Tata scored the first goal 3:44 into the game, tapping in a cross from Hyams. Hyams set up her own opportunity three minutes later, dribbling through traffic and firing off a shot. Hyams gave UVa a 3-0 lead when she got out ahead on a fast break, finding junior Caleigh Foust (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) in front of the goal 20:29 into the game.

After Virginia had two shots go into the net but both apparent goals were whistled off by the refs, Duke cut into the Cavaliers lead by scoring on a penalty corner four minutes before the end of the first half. Tata put Virginia back up by three, 4-1, two minutes later after freshman Greta Ell (Plains, Pa.) picked up a loose ball after an initial shot, passing it to Tata who knocked it in for the score.

Duke scored the lone goal of the second half on a penalty corner with 12:20 remaining in the game.

Virginia took 14 shots to Duke’s 11. The Blue Devils’ Lauren Blazing made six saves. UVa’s goalkeeping tandem combined for four saves.

Virginia will close out its current homestand on Monday, Sept. 21, hosting William & Mary (3-3, 0-0 CAA) at 6 p.m. at Turf Field. Admission is free for all of Virginia’s regular-season home field hockey games.