Despite their recent 3-0 loss to the third-ranked North Carolina field hockey team, the Cavaliers (9-5, 0-2 ACC) have a positive outlook on the remainder of the season. No. 10 Virginia is ready to face unranked Radford tonight at the University Hall Turf Field at 7 p.m.
The Cav loss against UNC Sunday hid the improvement Virginia has made since the start of the season. The team has improved its passing game and defense, Cavalier coach Jessica Wilk said.
The Radford Highlanders come to Charlottesville with a 2-12 record. They went 0-13 on the road last year and have won only one away game in two years, a 2-1 victory against Vermont in Worcester, Mass., Sept. 2. Radford coach Jeff Wood lost Laura Morrow, his leading offensive threat from last season, as well as two other starters. Now he looks to all-star candidates Sasha Ilovoch and Amy Lorigan to lead the Highlanders in scoring.
Radford has lost nine straight games, including a 2-1 overtime loss at Appalachian State Sunday. The Highlanders lost despite out-shooting the Mountaineers, 21-8, and earning nine penalty corners to their opponents' two.
Radford has faced several of the same teams as Virginia this season. The Highlanders lost to UNC 11-0 and Maryland 11-2. The Cavs also lost to those two teams - including twice to Carolina - but their defeats were far narrower.
Although the Highlanders have struggled this season, the Cavaliers maintain they are not taking this game lightly.
"They're always a tough team," Wilk said. "They are usually very athletic. Every game is important and I think this year it's been an indication that on any given day, any team can win."
Virginia has been preparing for the "scrappy" Highlander style of play, Wilk said.
The Cavs look to senior goalie Becky Worthington, who had seven saves Sunday against North Carolina, to continue her success tonight. Junior forward Jess Coleman leads the team in scoring with 24 points (10 goals, four assists), while junior midfielder Carrie Goodloe is not far behind with 20 points (six goals, eight assists).
The Cavaliers seem very confident in their overall play, but Wilk has pinpointed what specifics of their game they need work on.
"I think right now we are going to try to work on the little mistakes that are costing us goals," Wilk said. "We really need to be able to finish. I thought we had opportunities but we just didn't finish"
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