Field Hockey: No. 3 Hoos hang on to defeat Cal, 4-3, in ACC opener

By Colin Moore
JerryRatcliffe.com correspondent

 

No. 3 Virginia defeated the Cal Bears, 4-3, in a thrilling ACC opener for both teams on Friday night at Turf Field in Charlottesville.

The first quarter was very competitive, as both teams had opportunities with UVA (6-0, 1-0 ACC) leading the shot count, 3-1. UVA had its best opportunity eight minutes in, when Daniela Mendez-Trendler made a great individual run before passing the ball across the goal looking for Catalina Quinteros, who forced the keeper into a great save.

The Hoos struck first when they were able to capitalize on their second corner of the match in the 16th minute. Mendez-Trendler set it up, as she played the ball to the top of the arc, where Jans Croon had a powerful shot that was ultimately deflected by Lilly Hengerer for the first goal of the game.

The Bears, making their conference debut, were able to equalize a few moments later when Cassidy Puleo found some space on the right flank and zipped one to Liz Klompmaker, who shot from just outside the box and snuck it by UVA goalkeeper Tyler Kennedy’s far post.

It was an exciting second half, with lots of action throughout. The Hoos broke the deadlock about two minutes in by a great individual run by Mendez-Trendler. She received the ball near the corner and juggled the ball baseline before cutting it in and lifting it over the defenders and Cal goalie Tina Jolly.

Later in the quarter, UVA broke pressure by getting behind two lines of defense, then was able to find Taryn Tkachuk, who had a strong shot to the top left corner allowing the Cavaliers to go up by two. It was Tkachuk’s first goal of the season.

The fourth quarter was no different, as both teams tallied more to their totals. UVA made it 4-1 when the ball was found in the middle of the field by Mendez-Trendler. She had two defenders to beat,  took on both towards the outside of the arc and was able to sneak the ball in near post past Jolly for her second of the game.

Cal (4-1, 0-1) was able to get two fourth-quarter goals, both off of corner opportunities. The set plays were drawn up and they were able to capitalize on UVA penalties. The first goal was scored by Maya Hoepfner and the final tally — with no time left on the clock — by Klompmaker.

GOALS
UVA: 16:40 — Lilly Hengerer (Jans Croon)
Cal: 22:45 – Liz Klompmaker (unassisted)
UVA: 31:47 – Daniela Mendez-Trendler (unassisted)
UVA: 34:46 – Taryn Tkachuk (unassisted)
UVA: 48:16 – Daniela Mendez-Trendler (unassisted)
Cal: 52:42 – Maya Hoepfner (Pauline Lingnau, Canisha van Duyn)
Cal: 60:00 – Liz Klompmaker (Pauline Lingnau, Canisha van Duyn)

NOTES (Courtesy UVA Media Relations)

• This was Cal’s first conference game as a member of the ACC
• Lilly Hengerer and Taryn Tkachuk’s goals were their firsts of the season.
• 11 different players have scored a goal for the Cavaliers this season
• Cal and Virginia each took 13 shots. Cal had a 7-3 edge in penalty corners
• Tyler Kennedy made three saves. Tina Jolly had six saves for Cal, all in the first half.
• Cassidy Puleo had a defensive save for the Bears
• Virginia’s 6-0 start is its best start to a season since starting the 2013 season at 7-0

FROM HEAD COACH OLE KEUSGEN

“It was a very tough, physical game for us. With a few players out, we were on a very short rotation with our players, so there was a tough, physical load on the entire team. We found good attacking situations at times, but really, most of the time, we didn’t finish. We played a little hesitant, we kind of slowed down after we went up 4-1.”

UP NEXT

Virginia hosts another new ACC opponent, Stanford, on Sunday at 1 p.m.