Off to its best start since 1979, the No. 3 Virginia field hockey team - now 10-0 - will travel to Richmond tonight for an in-state contest.
Although the Spiders (4-5) are coming off a 3-1 win against William & Mary - a team Virginia also defeated - they have lost all three of the games they have played against nationally ranked opponents.
Richmond - led by senior back Sarah Blythe-Wood and her eight goals this season - has scored 25 goals to just 19 from its opponents, yet only averages 12.8 shots per game. Compared to Virginia's average of 18.3 shots per game, 35 total scores and a 138-49 shooting edge against its opponents, the Spiders face a daunting task in the form of stopping the Cavaliers' attack.
"We have strengths everywhere," said sophomore midfielder Paige Selenski, who scored her 10th goal against No. 9 Boston College at home Sunday.
Selenski has amassed 24 points this season and, after tallying three goals against Boston University and Boston College last weekend, was named ACC Player of the Week. Her high school teammate, freshman midfielder Tara Puffenberger, has contributed seven goals and two assists, while sophomore midfielders Inga Stockel and Michelle Vittese, as well as back Floor Vogels, have three goals each.
Virginia claimed its first ACC victory against the Eagles this past weekend. Although the Cavaliers did not score until the second half, the 2-0 victory marked their seventh defensive shutout.
"We knew they were going to come out hard against us and we started out a little sluggish, but I think we got our rhythm together," Selenski said. "We started playing together and getting some passing combinations going - that is where the goals came from."
Virginia's offensive success may very much be an extension of a fortified defensive front.
"Our defense has been phenomenal," Selenski said. "They have saved [the attack] so many times. Our corner defense has been awesome; every one of them has put in a tremendous amount of effort into getting the ball out and into our attack. Without them, our attack wouldn't be able to work."
A staple of Virginia's effective defense has been junior goalkeeper Kim Kastuk, who boasts a near perfect .941 save percentage in 610 minutes of play.
"[Kim] loves playing goalkeeper," coach Michele Madison said. "She is what a goalkeeper is all about. She keeps it simple."
The Cavaliers' defensive unit has not allowed any penalty strokes thus far this season and has been successful in clearing the circle effectively. By contrast, the Spiders have yielded goals on each of the two penalty strokes they have incurred.
"It is always more fun when you are winning games," Kastuk said. "It has been a great start, but we are looking to keep building from here. It is big momentum for us moving forward"
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