The No. 7 UVA field hockey (2-1, 0-0 ACC) posted a 2-0 victory over Longwood (1-1, 0-0 MAC) on Sunday (Sept. 2).
In their first home game of the 2018 season, the Cavaliers picked up their first shutout of the year. Senior goalkeeper Carrera Lucas (Brooklandville, Va.) made five saves as the defense held the Lancers to eight shots. Offensively, the Cavaliers took 26 shots with a pair of freshmen, Jacquelyn Wilkins (Louisville, Ky.) and Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.), scoring the goals.
“This was a really challenging game to play,” said Virginia head coach Michele Madison. “Longwood definitely brought their A game. They gave us great defensive pressure. When we were able to move the ball, we created a lot of circle opportunities. Our defense as a whole also played strongly today.”
Virginia dominated the first half, taking 11 shots and earning five penalty corners while the Lancers took just two shots in the first 35 minutes. Wilkins scored her goal midway through the first period, swarming towards the goal alongside Wallis and senior Greta Ell (Plains, Pa.) and smacking a pass from Wallis into the cage.
In the second half, Virginia held a 15-6 shot advantage, but the Lancers had a couple of scoring opportunities thwarted by the UVA defense and had two penalty corner chances. Wallis scored her third goal of the season with just over five minutes remaining in the game, tapping in a pass from junior Erin Shanahan (Pasadena, Md.) after a penalty corner.
The Cavaliers finish the current homestand with a pair of games next weekend. UVA plays its ACC opener next Friday, Sept. 7, taking on No. 11 Syracuse at 4 p.m. The Cavaliers close out the homestand by hosting in-state rival Old Dominion on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.
Admission is free for all of Virginia’s regular-season home field hockey games.
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Chris Graham
