The No. 3 Virginia field hockey team travels Saturday to Winston-Salem, N.C. to take on No. 5 Wake Forest for the second time after overcoming the Demon Deacons earlier in the season in overtime, 3-2.
The previous game against Wake Forest (10-4, 1-2 ACC) was the first time in the last 14 games between the two schools that Virginia (14-2, 1-2 ACC) emerged victorious. Sophomore midfielder Michelle Vittese scored on a penalty stroke in overtime to give the Cavaliers the win.
Since its match against Virginia, Wake Forest has played two tough road games, in which the Demon Deacons defeated both Providence 4-3 in overtime and No. 14 Louisville 2-1. Freshman midfielder Lizzie Rae came up big for the Demon Deacons in their game against Providence, recording a hat trick. Rae leads the team with 10 goals on the season and could be an important factor in Saturday's game.
In the previous meeting between the two teams, Wake Forest junior back Liza Casella also had an impressive outing, recording a goal and an assist. She, like Rae, will have to be contained by the Cavaliers' tenacious defense, as the Deacons will be looking for a little revenge.
"They will want to come out and beat us because we beat them the first time," Vitesse said.
Virginia, though, still looks to have the upper hand offensively. Unlike Wake Forest, which averages 2.79 goals per game, the Cavaliers have had no trouble scoring this season, averaging 3.38 goals per game.
Despite the Cavaliers' apparent statistical advantage against Wake Forest, there are aspects of the squad's production that could merit improvement. Virginia has failed to convert on much needed scoring opportunities - namely, penalty corners - throughout the season. In the Cavaliers' last 21 short corners, they have converted only one.
Against a tough conference foe, they may have to better that scoring rate.
"We know everything that they do and now we just have to get corners," Vittese said. "I think that's our biggest problem."
Playing on their opponents' turf could pose another challenge for the Cavaliers. The Demon Deacons boast a 3-1 home record with their only loss coming against No. 2 North Carolina.
"Obviously they will have home field advantage," Vittese said.
For what it is worth, though, the Cavaliers this season have managed an impressive road record, going 7-1, with their only loss coming at the hands of No. 1 Maryland.
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