Field Hockey
The Virginia field hockey team spent the entirety of its 2014 campaign ranked in the top-10 nationally, reaching a No. 3 ranking mid-season. However, the Cavaliers dropped five of their last six contests, including a 2-1 upset defeat at the hands of Wake Forest in the ACC semi-finals. This loss proved enough to keep Virginia out of national post-season play.
Despite the disappointing end to last season, Virginia looks poised to be a national contender again in 2015. The Cavaliers return their top six goal scorers from last season, including sophomore Tara Vittese, whose 17 goals and 17 assists were good enough to earn ACC Freshman of the Year honors in 2014. Virginia also returns juniors Calleigh Foust and Lucy Hyams, who were All-Region athletes a year ago.
The Cavaliers kick off their 2015 season Aug. 28, when Drexel comes to Charlottesville.
Volleyball
The Cavaliers opened 2014 with their best start since 2003, but stumbled down the stretch to finish the season at 17-14 (10-8 ACC). Virginia hopes to build on the early success it experienced last year and learn from the setbacks it had later in the season. With a roster that lost just two starters from its successful season a year ago, Virginia is in good position to earn its third straight winning season.
Key amongst returners is senior Lauren Fuller, who recorded a team-leading 1,329 assists in 2014 and earned All-ACC Second Team honors. Virginia also added five new players, including the 6’4” freshman Harley Sebastian and immediately eligible UTEP sophomore transfer Krystal Ejesieme.
Virginia has been chosen to finish sixth in the ACC by preseason polls — last year four ACC teams qualified for the NCAA tournament. With veteran leadership and sparks provided by the newcomers, the Cavaliers hope to earn their first tournament appearance in program history.
The Cavaliers open their season Aug. 28 in Los Angeles, California when they face off against Loyola Marymount.
Men’s Soccer
The second-ranked Virginia men’s soccer team — fresh off a national championship as the 16 seed in the 48-team field — comes into the 2015 season eager to repeat as champions, but will search for an easier path to glory.
Although boasting strong talent on offense, the Cavaliers scored just 27 goals, an issue exacerbated by the absence of vital attacking players. This season, however, Virginia not only will return a healthy redshirt junior forward Marcus Salandy-Defour — who played in 21 games as a sophomore in 2013 — but will also add the nation’s second-ranked recruiting class — highlighted by freshman forward Edward Opoku, whose breakneck pace can bring a new dynamic to Virginia’s attack.
While the Cavaliers are likely to boast a more prolific offense in 2015, a burning question is whether they can replicate their outstanding 2014 on defense, when they held opponents to just .81 goals per game. Without Calle Brown, the Most Valuable Defensive Player at the College Cup, the stout defense of years past suddenly becomes a bit more of a mystery. Repeating as champions in any sport is a tall task, but this Cavaliers team looks as equipped as any to solidify its place in NCAA soccer lure.
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