#14 Field Hockey Takes on #8 Virginia Friday
October 22, 2014 | Field Hockey
Chestnut Hill, Mass. – No. 14 Boston College will host No. 8 Virginia Friday, Oct. 24 for its final Atlantic Coast Conference matchup, and last home game, of the regular season. The Eagles look to secure their third ACC win of the season against the Cavaliers. All five of BC’s games against ACC opponents have been decided in overtime.
Team Records
The No. 14 Boston College Eagles sit at 1-5 on the season heading into Friday’s matchup against the Cavs. The 2014 BC squad has played in eight overtime games—82 minutes and 10 seconds of total extra time—this season, the most ever in program history. The Eagles have put together a 4-2 record at home. Four of those home games have gone into extra time. BC defeated No. 2 Connecticut in two rounds of shoot outs and Boston University in overtime. The Eagles lost two of those overtime games to ACC opponents No. 1 North Carolina and No. 17 Wake Forest.
No. 8 Virginia is 12-5 approaching its 18th game of the season. The Cavs have played in their share of overtime games, going to extra time in five games. One of those overtime contests came against ACC opponent Lousiville in which UVA beat the Cardinals, 3-2, in double overtime.
Virginia sits at 4-1 in ACC play. In addition to its wins against the Cards, Virginia took down No. 1 North Carolina, Duke, and Syracuse. The Cavaliers dropped a high-scoring game to Wake Forest, 4-3, in their most recent ACC matchup on Oct. 12.
History
Virginia leads the all-time series against Boston College, 10-5. Last year, the Eagles and the Cavaliers played a hotly contested match in Charlottesville that went to double overtime. UVA edged BC, 1-0, in the 89th minute after a penalty corner goal by Kesley LeBlanc.
Top Ten Opponents
Boston College is 3-2 against opponents ranked in the top ten this season. The Eagles took down No. 2 Connecticut, 3-2, in a game that went to double overtime and two rounds of shoot outs at the Newton Sports Complex on Sep. 14. The following weekend, BC defeated No. 4 Syracuse on Orange turf for its first ACC win of the season. Last weekend, Boston College won another overtime matchup against No. 7 Louisville. The Eagles dropped games to No. 1 North Carolina at home on Sep. 26 and No. 9 Duke in Durham, N.C. on Oct. 10.
Notable ACC Statistics
Boston College remains at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference in saves per game (5.62) behind junior goalkeeper Leah Settipane. The Eagles also lead the conference in attack penalty corners, tallying 114 corners on the season and 7.12 per game.
BC has earned Atlantic Coast Conference accolades once this season. Sophomore forward Eryn McCoy garnered ACC Player of the Week honors after her seven-point weekend scoring two goals—including the game-winner in overtime--against No. 7 Louisville and tallying a goal and an assist against California.
The No. 8 Cavaliers lead the ACC in shots (305), assists (46), and goals scored (57). Twelve of UVA’s 57 goals have been scored off attack penalty corners, good for most in the conference. The Cavs also lead the ACC in defensive saves with six.
Virginia has earned ACC weekly accolades twice this season. Freshman midfielder Tara Vittese was named ACC Player of the Week on Sep. 16 after scoring four goals and setting up two overtime game-winning goals. Vittese was also named ACC Co-Player of the Week on Sep. 23.
Team Leaders
Senior midfielder Emma Plasteras (6g, 9a) and sophomore forward Eryn McCoy (8g, 5a) lead the Eagles with 21 points. Plasteras and McCoy have each netted two game-winning goals this season.
Junior goalkeeper Leah Settipane leads the ACC with 88 saves, 15 more than the next leading goaltender.
Tara Vittese leads the Cavs with 46 points on 15 goals and 16 assists. Carleigh Foust is second on the team with 25 points on 11 goals and three assists.
Other
Before the 7 p.m. start on Friday, Boston College will honor its seven seniors for the contributions, commitment, and memories they have given to the BC field hockey program.
The live stats for the matchup between the Eagles and the Cavaliers will be available here.
To keep up with BC field hockey news and receive in-game updates, follow @BCFieldHockey on Twitter.
