Field Hockey Falls To No. 7 Virginia

Wednesday, September 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

7:00 PM

James Madison University

Virginia

9/8/2011 1:10:00 AM | Field Hockey

HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 7, 2011 – Seventh-ranked Virginia's Elly Buckley scored in the games 52nd minute to break up a scoreless tie and help lead the Cavaliers to a 3-0 win over the James Madison field hockey team at the JMU Field Hockey Complex on Wednesday.

JMU lost its second consecutive game against a team ranked in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I Coaches poll to drop to 1-3 on the season. UVA improved to 3-1 against Colonial Athletic Association teams this season and 3-2 overall.

"Sometimes when you lose, you can still be excited about the way you played," head field hockey coach Antoinette Lucas said. "The kids did everything we asked of them today and they put up the biggest fight I've seen from them. They are getting better every game and I thought we really played some good hockey."

Senior goalkeeper Margo Savage (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) made five saves while making her third consecutive start in goal for Madison. She allowed three goals to drop to 0-2 on the year.

Jenny Johnstone posted her first career shutout, making one save to improve to 2-2 on the season.

Buckley's goal was her team-leading fourth of the season and her first game-winner. Carissa Vittesse added her third goal of the season on a penalty stroke and Sarah Weber put the game away with her first goal of the year. Jess Orrett and Britt Knouse each contributed an assist for UVA.

Offensively, Madison got shots from redshirt sophomore Courtney Versfeld (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe/Dominican Convent) and freshmen Ysaline Nobels (Dion-Valmont, Belgium/College du Christ-Roi) and Bethany Ashworth (Lititz, Pa./Warwick).

Virginia outshot JMU 13-3, including a 7-0 advantage in the first half. The Cavaliers collected four penalty corners to the Dukes' two while JMU led 5-1 in save.

Buckley's game-winner came just minutes after she was s