The Cavaliers are not only taking on the Terrapins on the football field this Saturday. The No. 10 Virginia field hockey team (10-2, 1-0 ACC) is set to take on No. 1 Maryland (9-1, 2-0 ACC) at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the University Hall Turf Field.
The Cavaliers, after rebounding from a tough loss to Boston University and trouncing Richmond 7-1, are now looking to win their second ACC match of the season. It will be no easy task, however, as Maryland enters the match ranked second in the nation in goals per game and third in goals allowed per game.
The Cavaliers can “never take a second break mentally or physically,” senior goalkeeper Amy Desjadon said. “We need to mark everybody. We need to just play balls to the wall. We can’t ever hesitate for a minute [because] when you hold your breath for a second, they are going to put one in the cage.”
Virginia enters the match with more offensive corners per game than Maryland. If this trend continues Saturday, it could help the Cavaliers, allowing them more scoring opportunities while putting Maryland on the defensive. The trick would be turning those opportunities into goals against Maryland.
“We have been practicing corners at the end of practice,” senior midfielder Lucy Meyers said. “We do so many corners.”
The Cavaliers will need all the scoring chances they can get against a tough Maryland team containing an important offensive weapon. Sophomore forward Katie O’Donnell, who was voted last week’s ACC Player of the Week for the second time this year, has been a key component of the Terrapin team this season. O’Donnell has 12 goals and 11 assists on the season. Her scoring assets have also come in handy at the national level: O’Donnell has been a member of the US Senior National Team since 2005. At age 16, she became the youngest player ever to earn an international cap for the U.S.
“I don’t know if you can handle great players like that, so it will have to be a total team effort,” coach Michele Madison said. “A team defense is going to have to shut them down.”
Virginia’s high-press system has been very successful so far this season. Virginia has outscored its opponents 42-14 during its 12 games. Freshman midfielder Paige Selenski has tallied 11 of those goals, including two against Richmond Wednesday night.
The Cavaliers know they must keep the Terrapins on their toes; any lapse in the speed of the game could be disastrous.
“Passing instead of holding on to the ball was a big thing hanging over our heads, but they looked really good [against Richmond],” Desjadon said. “Looking up and passing the ball quickly [is vital] because it’s hard to keep up with a team that passes. Maryland is a good defense but our offense is pretty quick; if we keep passing it, it’s hard to keep up with the ball.”
The most important factor in this game is more obvious, however, in Madison’s eyes.
“We have to score more goals than Maryland,” she said.
That will be easier said than done against a team of the Terrapins’ caliber. A victory against Maryland, however, would likely do wonders for Virginia’s goal of advancing deep into the NCAA Tournament.
Read More
With 10 games left in the regular season, Virginia baseball must be near-perfect
By Emory Huffman , Xander Tilock and Ryan Weiner | 23 hours agoVirginia has reached the witching hour.
Live tracker: the men’s basketball offseason
By Michael Liebermann , Emory Huffman and Xander Tilock | YesterdayA frenetic offseason likely awaits.
For Virginia softball, the map to victory is clear — it’s also on the wall
By Cierra Lyles | YesterdayA team tradition inspires a culture of success.
