NEWS

 

Having played four of its last five games on the road, the Davidson field hockey team will play its next two at Belk Turf Field.

The Wildcats will host Atlantic 10 Conference foe VCU on Friday at 7 p.m., then welcome Bellarmine for Senior Day on Sunday at 12 p.m. And the chance to be back at home isn’t lost on the Wildcats.

“The prospect of playing two home games in a row feels great — we haven’t done that in a month, and we are here for it,” said coach Zoe Almquist. “The team is working so hard right now, both in the classroom and on the field. I am really hopeful for the opportunity to showcase that effort as we defend our home turf this weekend. We have talked a lot this week about how we are going to approach and succeed in this last half of the season, what it means to be an October team and what it will take to close out in the way we started. We are really excited for these next eight games, but really focusing on our own team objectives and taking things one day at a time.”

Charlie Kabelac leads Davidson with eight points, having scored three goals and assisted on two others. Sarah Grace Clifton, who scored in Monday’s loss at Wake Forest, has six points on two goals and two assists, while Natalie Naticchia and Anna Sharp have scored three goals apiece for six points. Sib Naaktgeboren has five assists, third-best in the A-10.

Sarah Minges and Caroline Wack have two defensive saves each, which is tied for third in the A-10.

SCOUTING VCU
VCU enters 7-4 overall and 2-1 in the A-10, having won four of its last five games. The only loss in that run was a 3-1 setback to No. 5 Louisville last Sunday. In league play, the Rams have wins over La Salle and Saint Louis and a loss to Saint Joseph’s.

Bridget McCormick and Litiana Field lead the Rams with five goals, while Morgan Hanley and Jamie McCormick have four assists apiece. Sheridan Messier is one of the league’s top keepers with a .759 saves percentage and a 1.23 goals against average.

Friday’s meeting is the 29th all-time between the teams in a series that dates to 1981. VCU leads the series 19-9 and has won the last seven meetings, after Davidson won the first two matchups in Atlantic 10 play in 2014 and 2015.

SCOUTING BELLARMINE
The Knights will take a 3-8 overall record with them when they visit Appalachian State Friday before coming to Davidson two days later.

Bellarmine has won its last two games against Longwood and Queens and has an offensive threat in Amber Hofenk Jerembo who has nine goals and 18 points.

Davidson earned a 3-1 win over the Knights last year after Abby Pompeo and Naticchia scored two goals in two minutes of the third quarter.