Virginia spent the primary jiffy of its recreation towards Penn State discipline hockey attempting discover the spark to set off its momentum.
And, as soon as they discovered it, the Nittany Lions couldn’t catch up quick sufficient to match it.
Friday was the house opener at Comfortable Valley and official begin of the NCAA Division I discipline hockey season. No. 16 Penn State in the end fell to No. 3 Virginia at dwelling 2-1.
“Virginia is an excellent crew,” Coach Lisa Bervinchak Love mentioned. “They’re very expert. Their forwards and their middies are very expert.”
That was evident from the beginning, particularly in the way in which that Virginia was faster to the ball, extra in charge of it, and the way they moved as a unit. Your entire squad moved into advantageous positions on the sector to assist their teammates ahead motion.
Simply over 4 minutes into the sport, a sequence of passes from an aerial to the bottom would ship the ball to Noa Boterman. She then despatched it within the path of Sloan Davidson, who then went one-on-one with freshman goalkeeper Aby Deverka. Davidson landed the primary objective for Virginia.
All through many of the recreation, junior midfielder Daniela Mendez-Trendler was seen all around the discipline disrupting passes.
Deverka’s debut was a great one. She made some key saves on Mendez-Trendler, Taryn Tkachuk and Mia Abello that might have given the blue and white an enormous deficit to climb out of. The primary yr pupil from Texas had 11 saves on the day.
“I feel she confirmed some nice composure again there,” Love mentioned.
Virginia’s type was crammed with paced balls and defensive double-teams that prevented Penn State from coming into the circle. The Nittany Lion again line needed to work exhausting to be on high of the Cavalier’s highly effective offense that had 13 photographs on objective in comparison with Penn State’s one.
There have been a number of close to misses just like the Cavalier’s Jans Croon’s within the third, however Deverka occurred.
Virginia earned its fourth nook with six minutes remaining within the third however it might be unsuccessful because the Penn State protection created havoc. Shortly after the Cavalier’s nook, Penn State’s Aubrey Semler would run the ball down the sector solely to have a whistle finish her run.
The Nittany Lion’s first nook got here within the third. It was simply what they wanted to attempt to crack the cage. They went for 4 consecutive penalty corners with the final one being a tough rip from Phia Gladieux into the underside left nook. The ball nailed the publish after which angled into the cage. Julienne Van Bekkum assisted with the insert.
The sport was even at 1-1.
Passing improved vastly for the Nittany Lions over the course of the second half however they nonetheless had some issues getting the ball previous Virginia’s again line. Penn State was not happening simple as Sophia Mannino had a good looking shot on objective nevertheless it was lined up by the Virginia goalkeeper Tyler Kennedy.
A disorganized backfield led to a Virginia nook with three minutes to go. This could find yourself altering the sport as Croon took a shot off the nook cross which was saved by Deverka, however the rebound bought free and picked up by Caroline Nemec to make the sport 2-1.
Cavalier followers cheered because the Penn State offense couldn’t get the ball to the cage with the remaining three minutes.
“I feel they have been doing a great job of shutting us down,” Gladieux mentioned after the sport. “They’ve a great one versus one protection, and I feel they’re simply actually sturdy on the ball.”
Virginia begins their season 1-0 as they may tackle Temple on September 6. As for the Nittany Lions, they fall 0-1 and have Syracuse on September 1.
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