Field hockey: No. 7 Louisville edges No. 9 UVA in OT

The No. 9 Virginia field hockey team (11-6, 3-3 ACC) fell 3-2 in overtime against No. 7 Louisville (14-3, 3-3 ACC) on Friday (Oct. 21) at University Hall Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

Louisville took a 2-1 lead in the first half and held that same advantage until senior Riley Tata (Virginia Beach, Va.) tied the game, 2-2, with 14 minutes remaining in the game. The Cavaliers had a chance to win the game in regulation when they were awarded a penalty corner as time expired. Sophomore Nikki Freeman (Downington, Pa.) took a shot that went into the goal, but the referees whistled off the goal as it had touched a Cavalier player’s leg on the way into the net, sending the game into overtime.

In the extra period, Virginia had the first scoring chance, with a shot by senior Lucy Hyams (Whitstable, England) saved 2:31 into the bonus period. Seniors Caleigh Foust (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and Emily Faught (Newton Square, Pa.) also took shots, but both were off the mark. Louisville’s Erin McCrudden took off on a breakaway, finding Minout Mink at the top of the circle, who smashed a hard shot into the goal 9:33 into overtime to end the game.

“This was a tough loss, falling in overtime,” said Virginia head coach Michele Madison. “I thought we did some really good things out there tonight. We were able to attack well against a very good defensive unit. We were able to get the shots off, but you have to put them in the goal.”

The Cavaliers outshot Louisville, 22-12. The Cardinals’ goalkeeper, Ayeisha McFerran, logged 12 saves. Sophomore goalkeeper Carrera Lucas (Brooklandville, Md.) made six saves for Virginia.

UVA took a 1-0 lead ten minutes into the game when sophomore Izzy McDonough (Kennett Square, Pa.) picked up a rebound off the goalie’s pads and knocked it into the goal. Louisville answered ten minutes later when Shannon Sloss also picked up a loose ball after an initial save and tapped it in for the equalizer. The Cardinals took their 2-1 lead when Nicole Woods and Mink combined for a fastbreak goal. Tata scored the game-tying goal after a shot off a penalty corner from junior Tara Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) clanged off the goal post. Tata picked up the ricochet and tapped the ball into the goal.

McDonough’s goal was her first of the year while Tata scored her ninth of the season.

With the loss, Virginia finishes at 3-3 in the ACC, in a three-way tie for fourth place alongside Louisville and Boston College. First place in the ACC will be determined on Saturday in the final conference contest of the year, a match between Duke and North Carolina. Seedings for the ACC Championship, being held Nov. 3-6 in Winston-Salem, N.C., are expected to be announced Saturday evening.

Up next, Virginia will head to College Park, Md., on Tuesday, Oct. 25, taking on No. 5 Maryland at 4 p.m. before returning home to host No. 17 James Madison on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. in the regular-season finale.