OT goal gives UVA field hockey a 3-2 win over Rutgers

The No. 5 UVA field hockey team (2-1) earned a 3-2 overtime victory over Rutgers (1-2) on Friday (Sept. 2) at University Hall Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

Senior striker Riley Tata (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored both of Virginia’s goals during regulation. Tata scored the first goal of the game, tapping in a pass from senior midfielder Lucy Hyams (Whitstable, England) three minutes before halftime, but Rutgers answered two minutes later to send the game into the break tied 1-1.  Tata scored her second goal on a feed from senior back Jeannie Blackwood (Virginia Beach, Va.) with 12:37 remaining, but Rutgers tied the game back up a minute and a half later on one of two shots the Scarlet Knights took in the second half.

The Cavaliers started the overtime period with possession of the ball and immediately attacked the goal, taking three shots early in the extra period. Junior midfielder Tara Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) scored the game-winner1:29 into the extra time, smashing a shot from the top of the circle that rolled past the goalie, hitting the backboard in the corner of the goal.

“We just kept playing,” said Virginia head coach Michele Madison. “We told them at halftime, we have the shots and we have the power, we need to keep it up until one finally breaks in. In the second half, we were able to possess the ball and work with each other more, but we just couldn’t finish it off. The Rutgers goalie played a phenomenal game. I give her a lot of credit.”

The Cavaliers held a 29-7 advantage in shots, including dominating the second half, 16-2. Rutgers’ Shevaun Hayes made 12 saves, including six in the second half. Virginia goalie senior Rebecca Holden (Fishing Creek, N.J.) made four saves.

This was Tata’s second two-goal game of the year and she leads the team with four goals this season. Tata took a team-high seven shots, five of which were on-goal. Hyams took six shots.

The Cavaliers close out the weekend by hosting No. 14 Delaware (2-1) on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. Admission is free for all of Virginia’s regular-season home field hockey games. Live stats will be available through a Gametracker link on VirginiaSports.com.