The No. 8 UVA field hockey team (3-2, 1-0 ACC) fell in overtime, 2-1, to No. 21 Old Dominion (6-0, 0-0 Big East) on Sunday (Sept. 9) at Turf Field in Charlottesville.
The Cavaliers played their second-straight overtime contest, this time falling after Old Dominion’s Rebecca Birch scored a goal 4:44 into the extra period. Freshman Amber Ezechiels (Niew-Vennep, Netherlands) scored Virginia’s goal at the end of the first half, with freshman Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.) providing the assist. Senior goalkeeper Carrera Lucas (Brooklandville, Md.) made eight saves.
“We need to learn how to come back after a big win and bring that same grit to the next game, to follow the game plan and be able to make it happen again,” said Virginia head coach Michele Madison. “We need to keep playing our best so that our best keeps getting better.”
The game was 0-0 heading into the final minute of the first half when Virginia was awarded a penalty corner. A shot by junior Anzel Viljoen (Matamata, New Zealand) was saved, and the Monarchs appeared to clear the ball out of the circle, but Virginia requested a review to see if a defensive foot was hit in the circle. Upon review, the Cavaliers were granted a second corner. Ezechiels made the most of the opportunity, tapping in a pass from Wallis to give Virginia a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Virginia appeared to score an insurance goal twenty minutes into the second half, with senior Izzy McDonough (Kennett Square, Pa.) knocking in a pass from sophomore Makayla Gallen (Glen Mills, Pa.), but after a video review requested by ODU, the goal was waived off. The Monarchs tied the game with just under seven minutes left to play, with Merle Knobloch scoring an unassisted goal.
Both teams had chances early in the overtime period, with the Cavaliers earning a penalty corner 1:15 into extra time. Freshman Greer Gill (Virginia Beach, Va.) took a pair of shots after the corner, but both were saved. Two minutes later, Old Dominion earned a penalty corner, but their shot was blocked. Rebecca Birch dribbled through the defense and hit a clean shot that smashed into the board a minute and a half later. That goal was also challenged, but was upheld by the video review to give the Monarchs the victory.
Old Dominion held a 19-13 shot advantage, including firing off 12 in the second period.
The Cavaliers are back on the road next week, playing at No. 2 North Carolina on Friday, Sept. 14 and No. 16 Liberty on Sunday, Sept. 16.
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Chris Graham
