On the heels of a heartbreaking loss in the ACC quarterfinals to Syracuse, Virginia field hockey managed to snag an at-large bid during the selection show — staving off the end of the season a little longer. The Cavaliers (13–4, 6–2 ACC) are slated to face off against No. 10 Michigan Friday in Evanston, Ill. Should Virginia conquer the Wolverines (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten), it will almost certainly face No. 2 Northwestern, the host of the first two rounds. The road to a second consecutive Final Four appearance is arduous.
Despite trailing fellow Big Ten members Northwestern and Ohio State in the polls for much of the regular season, Michigan boasts a powerhouse front line that has helped rack up a four-game win streak. The Wolverines are third-best in the country in goals per game with 3.42 and fourth-best in scoring average and scoring margin. They also rank fifth in assists per game, meaning Virginia will have to work overtime to keep Michigan out of the circle. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers rank 28th with a pedestrian 2.29 goals per game and come in at 38th in assists per game.
This will be especially difficult considering the Wolverines’ offense is led by the scoring machine duo of junior striker Abby Tamer and graduate striker Kate McLaughlin. Both have tallied 12 goals on the season, not to mention 14 and five assists, respectively. In addition, graduate midfielder Erin Reilly, senior striker Alana Richardson and senior midfielder Pilar Oliveros all have seven goals on the season, giving Michigan a multifaceted offensive front that relies on a bevy of scoring options.
Tamer in particular is one to watch out for. She was selected as Most Valuable Player at the 2023 Junior Pan American Championship and joined USA Field Hockey at the Paris Olympics this summer. She also ranks sixth nationally in assists per game and has a shot-on-goal percentage of 0.639, making her a major threat to Virginia’s defensive third. Coupled with McLaughlin’s shot-on-goal percentage of 0.882, Michigan has a clear upper hand in the circle.
That makes it crucial that the Cavaliers clean up their performance in their defensive third by avoiding wanton cards and corner fouls. As of late, Virginia has struggled defensively, so holding the Wolverines scoreless will be a difficult feat. Senior back Jans Croon, who was recently named ACC Defensive Player of the Year, will have to play lights-out defense if Virginia wants to make it to the second round of the tournament.
It will also put the onus on senior goalkeeper Tyler Kennedy to direct her back line. With a save percentage of 0.512, Kennedy has a lot to prove in goal — which just might be to the Cavaliers’ benefit. While Kennedy has registered some streaky performances this season, she has also risen to the occasion in key games. She shut out No. 9 Duke in Durham just a few weeks ago and has the potential to shut down any powerhouse opponent. Although she still has a lot of areas for improvement, Kennedy’s veteran leadership and previous success will be key to guiding Virginia through the first-round matchup.
Even more important than strong defense is the offensive line. That is the lynchpin that Coach Ole Keusgen has repeatedly expressed his frustration with — the team has struggled to finish in front of the goal. Converting opportunities at point-blank range is exactly what they have to do to survive Michigan in this contest.
Led by junior midfielder Daniela Mendez-Trendler, Virginia’s front line must take advantage of looks on goal as well as capitalize off of corners — which has been a struggle thus far in the season. With only 10 goals off of 93 corners, the Cavaliers are sorely lacking in goal production in one of the most crucial aspects of the game. However, improving that record could give them an unprecedented upper hand.
Another key to Friday’s game will be the inexperience of Michigan’s redshirt freshman goalie Hala Silverstein. Silverstein lacks Kennedy’s senior presence in goal, giving Virginia an advantage in their attacking circle. While Silverstein ranks 11th nationally in goals against average, it is overshadowed by her save percentage, which is only 0.678. Destabilizing Silverstein with an early goal could put the Wolverines on the defensive, allowing the Cavaliers to take control of the game. However, this is only possible if Virginia’s offense can finally turn quality shot opportunities into goals.
In the case of a win against Michigan, it is more than likely that the Cavaliers will end up facing the Wildcats. Northwestern could unexpectedly drop to the winner of the match between Vermont and Miami Ohio, but the chances are low. That means in order to reach the Final Four, Virginia will have to beat not only Michigan — who is coming off a high from winning the Big Ten Tournament — but also Northwestern, one of the favorites to take home the national championship title.
The Cavaliers have a long way to go in order to reach the national finals. While not impossible, Virginia will have to bring its A-game to every match going forward. Should the Cavaliers pull off a win Friday, they might just be able to restore Virginia field hockey to the glory of last season — and maybe take home some hardware while they are at it.
The Cavaliers take on the Wolverines for the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday at 3:30, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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