Selenski Scores Twice to Lead Virginia Past Duke in the First-Round of the ACC Field Hockey Championship

Nov. 5, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Sophomore midfielder Paige Selenski scored two goals to lift third-seeded Virginia to a 3-1 victory over sixth-seeded Duke in the first round of the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Championship today at the University of Virginia Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va. The Cavaliers advance to the semifinal round and will take on second-seed North Carolina.

The win improves Virginia's record to 17-2 overall as the Cavaliers advance to the semifinals for the fourth consecutive season. Duke ends its season at 9-10 overall.

Quick ball movement and fast-paced play marked the first 13 minutes of the game, before Virginia sophomore All-ACC midfielder Inga Stöckel netted her sixth goal of the season on a penalty corner assist from senior forward/midfielder Traci Ragukas to give the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead. The assist was Ragukas' seventh of 2009.

Duke countered less than three minutes later and tied the score at 1-1 when freshman defender Abby Hassinger teamed with senior All-ACC defender Lauren Miller for a penalty corner goal. The goal was Hassinger's third of the season, while the assist was Miller's sixth.

The two teams played to a stalemate for the next 20 minutes. Virginia's sophomore All-ACC midfielder Paige Selenski broke the deadlock and put the Cavaliers up 2-1 in the 35th minute. Selenski used a penalty corner assist from freshman midfielder Tara Puffenberger, the third such goal of the first half.

Virginia entered halftime holding a slim 2-1 lead.

In the second half, Virginia had several early opportunities, but was denied on each by Duke junior goalkeeper Samantha Nelson. Nelson faced eight Cavalier shots in the second half and recorded three saves.

Not until there were just 46 seconds remaining in the game did Virginia score an insurance goal, when Selenski notched her second goal of the game and team-leading 24th of the season. Her two goals give her six multi-goal games this season.

The Cavaliers out-shot Duke, 11-5, and won the penalty-corner battle by a 7-2 count. Virginia junior goalkeeper Kim Kastuk played all 70 minutes in goal and notched one save. Duke junior goalkeeper Samantha Nelson made three saves in 70 minutes of action.

Virginia advances to the semifinal round where it will take on second-seeded North Carolina at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 6 at the University of Virginia Turf Field. The Tar Heels won the regular-season meeting, 2-1 in overtime, on October 17 in Charlottesville.

More information on ACC field hockey can be accessed by visiting theACC.com. All 2009 ACC Field Hockey Championship information can be found on the official championship website, www.theacc.com/championships/09-fh-championship.html.