Intimidating. That’s what you think when you see a field hockey goalkeeper. It’s the loads of padding she wears that make her appear twice as big. It’s the mask, that monstrous helmet that gives the scoring zone the aura of a daunting barricade.

But behind the pads and mask is not a super human, but someone you might see everyday. Someone with more to offer than just a barrier to the cage. Virginia’s Becky Worthington is no exception.

The senior’s experience and academic standing make her a shining example for the team’s young and new players. On the field, she is the Cavs’ workhorse and played every minute of every game last season. Off the field, the fourth-year Engineering student was a 1999 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Academic All-American. With all the demands on her time, providing leadership and keeping a good image are no easy tasks.

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“Becky is a great person,” Cav coach Jessica Wilk said. “It’s extremely difficult to be an engineering major and an athlete and excel in both, and she has done that. She’s very caring and supportive to all the players, and she’s just a neat person altogether.”

But that doesn’t keep Worthington from being intimidating in goal. The Fairview Village, Pa. native is not only a leader and a scholar, but also one of the best goalkeepers in the country. She is ranked among the national leaders with a 64 percent save percentage and a 1.50 goals against average. In five games this season, Worthington has recorded two shutouts for the No. 7 Cavs.

Worthington credits her success not to her talent, but to her experience and devotion to her sport. She said she is “intense and demanding” and “always looking for challenges.”

Since middle school, she has participated in the U.S. Field Hockey Association’s programs and camps. In addition to collegiate play, she played on the USFHA Elite Blue team and USA under-20 and USA under-19 teams.

Becky Worthington
Game-by-Game

Date	Opponent	Result	Saves	Goals
9/3	Penn State	L 1-3	5	3
9/4	Ohio State	W 2-0	dnp	dnp
9/7	Richmond	W 2-0	8	0
9/8	Northwestern	W 2-0	4	0
9/17	@North Carolina	L 1-3	8	3

What impresses most about Worthington, however, is her dedication. Not only does she put in hours of constant practice during the year, but in the offseason, despite her demanding schedule, it is not unusual to find Worthington running between an engineering job and self-motivated workout sessions.

“She’s put in a whole lot of time to making herself a better player, even during the summer,” Wilk said. “It’s not easy to train by yourself when no one else is around. And because of that, she’s done a great job making the necessary corrections and adjustments and improving upon herself year after year.”

Worthington has high praise for her experience at the University.

“I’ve grown to understand the game much better, knowing when to step up.” Worthington said. “I’ve also learned to manage my time and work with different people. Cooperation, communication, leadership, teamwork, working in competitive environments: All are skills that can be used in the real world, skills that playing [hockey] has helped me develop.”

Worthington may have received a lot from the Virginia field hockey program, but it’s minute compared to what she has given to Virginia, her teammates say.

“There are not enough good things I could say about her and what she has meant to this team,” Wilk said. “She’s kept us in all the games over the course of her four years here, and she really is very instrumental over the success of this program.”

Photo by Cavalier Daily Staff Photographer, Cavalier Daily Photo Staff
Senior goalie Becky Worthington has recorded two shutouts in five regular season games, helping propel her team to a No. 7 national ranking.