Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Virginia
Virginia Slips Past Hoosiers in Season Opening Thriller
8/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Aug. 26, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Despite an impressive second-half performance, the No. 10 Indiana field hockey team dropped its hard-fought season opener to Virginia, 3-2, in Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 26. Freshman forward Haley Funk and senior All-American forward Lydia Schrott scored for IU, while senior back Morgan Miller led the defense with a defensive save.
"There were so many positives we took from this game, along with what was exposed to us that we need to work on," Indiana head coach Amy Robertson said. "This team has so much depth. Everyone who played today contributed and did their job. Early in the game, this team looked like a new team but in the second half, we organized, maintained possession and created opportunities offensively. I am proud how the team fought today, especially with the heat. I am proud of the seniors for their leadership and holding this team together. When we were down 3-1, it would have been easy to let up, but everyone kept fighting. Today, we definitely showed desire, poise and the ability to be a top-10 team this season."
After spending the majority of the first half on defense, the Hoosiers transitioned to offense as Schrott drove into the left side of the circle, setting up Funk, who was trailing behind her, for the first score of her IU career. Funk converted the rebounded shot into a goal for the 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.
On defense, Miller recorded the sixth defensive save of her career and the first for Indiana this season off a Cavalier penalty corner, as the 5-11 back was in position to clear the ball before it reached the cage.
UVA scored two unanswered goals before the half, giving Virginia the 2-1 lead.
Indiana looked to tie the game with just over six minutes left to play in the half, as sophomore forward Katie Kiper had an open look at the goal, but the Louisville, Ky., product's shot narrowly missed left.
Virginia added to its lead when midfielder Traci Ragukas scored just two minutes into the second half, giving UVA a 3-1 lead. From then on, it was a different story for the Hoosiers offensively.
Indiana cut the Cavaliers' lead to 3-2 as Schrott converted the feed from junior midfielder Margie Stoll from the far left side of the circle, dribbled in front of the cage and scored her first goal of the season in the 54th minute.
The Hoosiers remained on offense for the majority of the second half, as several Indiana attackers, including sophomore back Dani Castro and Schrott, had open looks to tie the score, but their shots were narrowly saved.
Along with Funk, Indiana freshmen Lucy Ireland, Fenna Geuskens, Brittney Hacken, Meg O'Connell, Elizabeth Schmidt and Alina Valenti competed in their first games as Hoosiers.
For the game, junior goalkeeper Haley Exner recorded six saves for IU.
Indiana will take on Longwood in its second game of the season tomorrow night in Farmville, Va. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. (ET).
