FIELD HOCKEY DEFEATED AT NO. 4 VIRGINIA, 5-0

Highlanders Set Single-Season Defensive Saves Record In Defeat

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Senior Sidney Encarnacion recorded a season-high 15 saves and Radford field hockey set a single-season record for defensive saves, but if wasn't enough as the Highlanders dropped a 5-0 decision at No. 4 Virginia on Tuesday evening.

Radford held one of the top-ranked offensives scoreless for almost 30 minutes before two late goals by Katie Kelly and Lucy Hyams gave Virginia a 2-0 lead at the break. Encarnacion, who matched a season-high with her save total, kept RU in the match with nine stops in the first 35 minutes.

"We played really tough tonight and had a solid first half against a good Virginia team," commented head coach Jeff Woods. "Sidney had a nice game in goal for us tonight too!"

Along with Encarnacion's saves, the shutout hockey was helped out by three defensive saves by the NCAA leaders in that category. Playing her first collegiate game in her hometown, Charlottesville native, Jordan Vrhovac, recorded two of those with the second breaking the previous school-record mark of 18 set in 1992. It brought her season total to five, which is second on the team and third in the NCAA.

Senior Alayna Versage, who is tied for the NCAA lead with seven, added the other first-half save, matching her career-high from a season ago. The Highlanders ended the match with four defensive saves as junior Jennifer Hedrick recorded one more in the second half, moving her season total to four.

The Wahoos added two early second half goals and another with 41 seconds left to cap off the scoring.

"We made a number of silly mistakes in the second half that led to their goals," said Woods.

Radford remains on the road Friday, taking on VCU at 5:00 p.m.

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