Field Hockey: No. 3 UVA hangs on for 1-0 win at ninth-ranked Duke

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The No. 3 Virginia field hockey team picked up a 1-0 road victory at No. 9 Duke on Friday at Jack Katz Field in Durham, N.C.

Mia Abello scored the game-winning goal 5:17 into the fourth quarter.

With the victory, Virginia (8-0, 3-0 ACC) opens a season 8-0 for the first time since 2010.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cavaliers opened the game strong, taking five shots and had four penalty corners in the first quarter, but Duke’s defense kept the game at 0-0. Duke outshot UVA 3-1 in the second quarter, but the two teams went into halftime still scoreless.

Virginia broke the deadlock on a penalty corner 5:17 into the fourth quarter, its first since the opening period. Grad student Meghen Hengerer injected the ball with senior Emily Field on the stick stop at the top of the circle. Sophomore Mia Abello rocketed off a shot that went cleanly into the goal to put the Cavaliers on the board.

Scoreless no more!!!
Mia Abello scores off a corner to put UVA up 1-0 at Duke in the fourth quarter #GoHoos
Watch the game live on 📹 ACCNX https://t.co/wMcKDbi9Ul pic.twitter.com/5J1OXJwVHI

— Virginia Field Hockey (@UVAFieldHockey) September 27, 2024

Duke (4-4, 0-1) pulled its goalkeeper with 3:47 remaining in the game but did not manage to take a shot with the extra attacker on the field.

GOALS
UVA: 50:17 — Mia Abello (Meghen Hengerer, Emily Field)

FROM HEAD COACH OLE KEUSGEN

“A very close and high-quality game from both teams in which we defended incredibly well and were disciplined. We should have converted on corners earlier but found a way in the fourth quarter again. We are executing set situations well under pressure right now to win games.”

NOTES

• Virginia held an 8-4 edge in shots and 5-3 advantage in penalty corners
• Abello’s goal was her second of the year
• Field logged her team-leading seventh assist of the year
• Senior goalkeeper Tyler Kennedy made one save as she picked up her 10th career shutout
• UVA’s last 8-0 start to a season came in 2010 when the team opened 9-0
• This is Virginia’s fourth game this season against a ranked opponent and second top-10 match-up after winning 1-0 at No. 5 Maryland

UP NEXT

Virginia returns home to host William & Mary on Sunday at 1 p.m.