Hoos blank Orange on Janssen’s game-winning goal, 1-0

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Posted on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, 7:41 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Laura Janssen is mobbed by her teammates after her go-ahead goal late against Syracuse (Photo: UVA Athletics).

The Virginia field hockey team opened a weekend homestand with a 1-0 victory over Syracuse on Friday at Turf Field. Sophomore striker Laura Janssen scored the game winner with 1:24 remaining in regulation. Sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Henriksen registered her second consecutive shutout.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cavaliers (2-1, 2-0 ACC) had two excellent scoring chances in the first quarter. Freshman striker Lilly Hengerer took an on-target shot at an open goal 4:02 into the contest, but Syracuse defender SJ Quigley got a stick on the ball and saved the shot. Three minutes later, Meghen Hengerer also had a great angle for a shot that was knocked down right in front of the goal line by the Orange’s Syd Taylor. Freshman striker Anneloes Knol had a shot go into the net after a penalty corner with 6:41 remaining in the second quarter, but the goal was whistled off after review.

Syracuse (0-1, 0-1) had its best scoring opportunity in the waning minutes of the first half, taking four shots after a penalty corner, but the first effort was blocked, with Henriksen making a pair of saves before a fourth attempt sailed high.

With the scored tied 0-0 and the clock showing less than two minutes left in regulation, Janssen received a pass up ahead and dribbled her way into the circle, drawing a foul to earn a penalty corner for the Cavaliers. Janssen then deflected in a shot from junior back Amber Ezechiels off the stick stop at the top of the circle to break the tie.

FROM HEAD COACH MICHELE MADISON

“There was a lot of back-and-forth action, big counter attacks with their big balls. I thought we got good pressure on in the first half. We were able to put pressure on and intercept a bunch. That’s where we had those scoring opportunities. And then they responded with some really big balls for midfield that we weren’t able to stop and that allowed them to have few attacks, and a lot of space.

“Our defense right now, they’re playing as a unit. They just know each other so well instinctively and just cover for each other and very composed in their tackles.”

Box Score

NOTES

  • This game is an ACC contest and counts towards the conference standings. Sunday’s finale is considered a non-conference game
  • Taylor Henriksen picked up her second straight shutout. She made four saves
  • Virginia held a 13-12 edge in shots
  • Virginia only had one corner in the second half, the play that they scored on. They had three total corner. Syracuse had five
  • This was the season-opener for Syracuse which had a series two weeks ago against Duke postponed

UP NEXT

  • Virginia and Syracuse close out the series by playing on Sunday at noon in a non-conference game
  • Sunday’s game will stream live online via ACCNX