Field hockey: No. 10 UVA falls in OT at No. 3 North Carolina

The No. 10 UVA field hockey team (8-5, 2-2 ACC) fell in overtime, 3-2, at No. 3 North Carolina (11-2, 3-1 ACC) on Friday (Oct. 7) at Francis E. Henry Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

North Carolina took a 2-1 lead on a goal from Lauren Moyer with 8:27 remaining, but junior Tara Vittese retied the game with 4:51 remaining, scoring on a pass from senior Lucy Hyams (Whitstable, England) after a penalty corner. UNC’s Emma Bozek scored the golden goal 3:05 into overtime.

“This was a great, evenly-matched game, but someone had to win and someone had to lose,” said Virginia head coach Michele Madison. “I am so proud of our team’s effort and the way they stuck to the game plan. I thought we had a lot of momentum in the first half. We split the second half, with the momentum shifting throughout, but UNC won the overtime.”

Hyams scored the first goal of the game, knocking in a pass from Vittese after a penalty corner 13:49 into the first half. The Tar Heels tied the game with Moyer scoring off a penalty corner after time expired at the end of the first half.

UNC had several scoring chances in the second half, taking 11 penalty corners in the period. The Tar Heels seemingly scored a goal 20 minutes into the second half on the third of three-consecutive penalty corners, but the shot was deemed too high and the goal was disallowed. UNC had another sequence of three-consecutive penalty corners in the final two minutes of regulation, but the Cavalier defense held to send the game into overtime.

Virginia had possession to start the overtime, but did not take a shot. Bozek scored the game-winner after dribbling into the circle with sophomore goalkeeper Carrera Lucas (Brooklandville, Md.) coming out of the cage to try to make a play on the ball. Bozek got past her and shot into the open net to end the contest.

Lucas made seven saves while the Tar Heels’ Alex Halpin made a career-high eight stops.

UVA is now 2-1 this season in overtime games.

The Cavaliers will have the weekend off, returning to action on Oct. 11 for a Tuesday evening game at William & Mary. UVA returns home on Saturday, Oct. 15 to host No. 4 Syracuse at Turf Field. Admission is free for all regular-season home games at Turf Field.