Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech saw a two-goal advantage slip away late in the game and Denver had possession of the ball in the closing moments of regulation but the Hokies' defense got the job done and Tech won the opening draw of overtime to set up Sara Goodwin's heroics as the program earned a crucial victory as they head into the final non-conference matchup of the season.
Emma Crooks, who scored six points on the afternoon, won the opening draw of overtime which would set up a Hokies possession that ended up in the hands of Taylor Caskey as she was fouled inside the 8-meter line. Caskey passed across the area to Goodwin who dodged the goalie and scored the game-winner, her only goal of the game, as Tech defeated the thirteenth-ranked Denver Pioneers Sunday afternoon.
👀👀😏🤩💥@saragoody's goal the difference as Tech takes down thirteenth-ranked Denver Sunday afternoon #eleVaTe | #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/lu85osQphQ
— Virginia Tech Lacrosse (@HokiesLax) March 17, 2019
The game was a back and forth affair as neither team could get any separation over the other, as the largest lead of the contest was two goals.
Tech saw big performances from their midfielders Sunday with Paige Petty scoring another three goals, and Emma Crooks adding six points and Mary Claire Byrne tallied three points and put in her usual shift on the defensive side, grabbing three ground balls and causing three turnovers.
In goal, Morgan Berman was solid once again, as the sophomore came up with nine saves and five ground balls to anchor the defense.
Quoting Coach Sung
- Emma Crooks was huge today. She had four goals, two assists and eight draws in there. She kind of stepped up and became that person we need there right next to Paige (Petty). She won that draw in overtime which was crucial
- We moved Leigh Lingo today back to her old position and I thought she was good and gave us what we needed
- I'm really happy for Sara Goodwin who scored that winner. As a freshman, that's huge and I'm sure that's a moment that she will never forget.
- I was really happy to get outside and play on Thompson Field, it was a beautiful day and we got to use the scoreboard for the first time which was awesome. But, it's always great to beat a ranked team, Denver is really good and we made the adjustments that we needed to in order to get the result.
- Morgan (Berman) is fantastic she had nine saves again today. Especially there in the first half she was huge and kept us in it.
Inside the box score
- Petty's six goals ties her season best. The sophomore entered Tuesday's contest third in the
- Emma Harden recorded a hat trick, her first of the season and 10thof her career.
- The Hokies won more draws (17-14), including the crucial draw to begin the overtime period. Crooks had eight and Elena Ricci also secured seven of them.
- Denver, who feeds the ball extraordinarily well assisted on 10 of the teams 14 goals.
- The Pioneers were led by Quintin Hoch-Bullen, five points (4 goals, 1 assist) and Kendra Lanuza (2 goals, 3 assists) who also recorded five points on the afternoon.
Game Notes
- The win was the Hokies' first in 2019 against a ranked opponent
- The game marked the first time that the Hokies had played at Thompson Field since the 2017 season, and was the first win over a ranked opponent since knocking off No. 7 Virginia in 2012.
What's next
- Tech is back on Thompson Field on Wednesday, March 20 for a 4 p.m. game against the visiting Elon Flames.
- That game can be viewed on WatchESPN.
Gallery: (3/17/2019) 2019 LACROSSE vs. DENVER