Field hockey: No. 5 UVA opens with 5-1 win over Miami

The No. 5 UVA field hockey team opened up the 2016 season with a 5-1 victory over Miami (Ohio) on Friday at University Hall Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

Playing in the sweltering afternoon heat, senior Riley Tata (Virginia Beach, Va.) contributed two goals while first-years Erin Shanahan (Pasadena, Md.) and Dominique van Slooten (Laren, Netherlands) both scored the first goal of their collegiate careers to spot the Cavaliers to a 5-0 lead. Miami’s Brianna Stahl deflected in a pass with eight minutes left in the game to make it a 5-1 score.

“It was definitely a struggle to play out there in these temperatures, but the team made some adjustments,” said Virginia head coach Michele Madison. “They started to find a person that was open, run to each other and keep possession of the ball. I thought they were really demanding a lot out of each other – to stay focused and stay into it, and they showed a lot of discipline and stuck with the game plan.”

Senior striker Caleigh Foust (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) scored the first goal of the season for the Cavaliers, slamming in a shot 3:46into the game. Tata followed 45 seconds later with her first goal of the game, a clean shot into the cage. Tata added her second goal midway through the first half, deflecting in a pass from senior midfielder Lucy Hyams (Whitstable, England).

The Cavaliers held a 3-0 advantage at halftime, taking all 11 shots in the period.

In the second half, Shanahan picked up a rebound off the goalie’s pads to scored her first collegiate goal midway through the second period. Three minutes later, the Cavaliers capitalized on a penalty corner with van Slooten’s direct hit off an insertion from Hyams and a stick stop by sophomore Laura Schnatmeier (Bad Schwartau, Germany) giving the Cavaliers a 5-0 advantage with 15 minutes left in the game.

Senior Rebecca Holden (Fishing Creek, N.J.) played the entire game in goal, making three saves in the second half. Miami’s keeper, Alysa Xavier, made 11 saves. The Cavaliers outshot the Redhawks 26-6.

Virginia improves to 10-0 all-time against Miami, who have been selected to win the Mid-American Conference in the preseason coaches poll.

The Cavaliers will close out their opening weekend by facing No. 18 Penn State on Sunday, August 28 at 12 p.m. in University Park, Pa.