You won't have to search far around Grounds this spring to find a Virginia team with a history of success, a bright freshman contingent and playoff potential. Look no further than the 2001 Virginia women's lacrosse team.
The Cavaliers closed out the 2000 season in the second round of the NCAA tournament with a 12-5 loss to in-state rival James Madison. Just a year before, the Cavalier women played in the NCAA championship game but lost to ACC foe Maryland.
Although they did not capture the NCAA title last year, the Virginia program is returning five of its top six scorers, and the team hopes to continue their success with the help of some new faces.
"Our goals aren't any lower, we just have to do this year differently," senior midfielder Jill Hansen said. "I think [the rookies] all come in knowing what Virginia lacrosse is about."
|
Hansen, a returning starter and captain for 2001, will have a lot to teach this year's squad, which includes 11 players in their first season. Neither Hansen nor Cavalier coach Julie Myers sees the team's youth as a problem. In fact, Myers says it may be to their advantage.
"Our new players will bring a lot of youth, excitement and energy to the team," she said.
Among the freshmen are high school All-American Caitlin Banks from East Setauket, N.Y. Also from New York is midfielder Carol Hotarek of Manhasset. At attack the Cavaliers have added Schuyler Williams of McLean, Va., and Ann Harvey of Darien, Conn. Erin Sweeney adds strength to the midfield from Garden City, N.J.
The Cavaliers will have more experience at goalkeeper, where veteran juniors Liz McCarthy and Mary Beth LaVerghetta are returning. Virginia also added two-time high school All-American Andrea Pfeiffer.
On defense, Myers picked out juniors Gina Sambus and Lauri Kenis as essential players.
The rookies have found a place quickly among these veterans. Hansen used the team's preseason discussion of goals as evidence.
"It was amazing that everyone had a lot of the same goals," she said. "Usually first years and fourth years have different goals.
Among those goals are getting the team back to the NCAA Championship match. But with what looks to be a tough schedule, the Cavaliers will have their work cut out for them.
On Wednesday, the Cavaliers will jump into regular season play against William & Mary, but the true tests will come later in the season.
The Cavaliers will face Princeton, also an NCAA semifinalist last year, on March 18, along with NCAA tournament participant Syracuse on March 3 and perennial powers Penn State and Temple, on March 16 and March 31, respectively.
The greatest demon Virginia will have to face is the ACC's own Maryland, six-time national champions already on the hunt for a seventh title.
As for beating Maryland, "that's on everyone's mind," Myers said. "That's a lesson that we've learned from this season - that you have to work hard every single game to get there."
Maryland also boasts a strong recruiting class this year, including high school All-American Acacia Walker and All-American honorable mention Jessica Dorney, both Maryland natives.
Another opponent to look out for is North Carolina. The Tar Heels boast the return of leading scorer Kellie Thompson, along with three other leading scorers in the starting lineup.
North Carolina coach Jenny Slingluff Levy maintained that graduation hit the Tar Heels' roster hard, but their freshman class should step up, led by two Maryland women, Nicole Barnes and Lindsey Stover.
With several teams' fates riding on the success of their freshmen, Virginia's young team is par for the conference.
"I think a lot of the ACC teams are very young," Myers said. "The turnover years are consistent in the league."
The Cavaliers seem to be evenly matched with their opponents, making for fewer giveaway wins and tougher contests.
"Looking at our schedule, there's not a game that you can determine the outcome of beforehand," Myers said.
Myers herself is a 1990 Virginia graduate, now in her fifth year as Virginia head coach and her 13th with the program. She is the only rookie coach ever to take her team to a championship game (1996), and the third to win an NCAA Championship both as a player and as a coach (1991 and 1993, respectively).
Myers never has had a team ranked below No. 6 during the season - Virginia starts off this season ranked No. 7 in the preseason poll - and she sees the same potential in this year's team.
"Our new players have tremendous player experience out of high school," she said.
Hansen agreed that the Cavaliers seem to be meshing well already.
"I think our team chemistry is very good," she said. "It's been one of the strongest factors in the four years I've played, and it's really to the benefit of the team."
With chemistry, history and intensity on their side, the Cavaliers will look to make this season another to remember.
Read More
Virginia softball closes out regular season with series victory over Georgia Tech
By Eleanor Lynch | 50 minutes agoThe team’s overall 65.3 percent win record this year is the highest it’s been since the 2003-04 season, and there is still time for it to continue to rise from there.
In an arduous series, Virginia baseball triumphs in Boston
By Katie Costin | 55 minutes agoThe Cavaliers picked up another series win, but will need to find consistency as they approach postseason play.
Virginia Athletics wins second straight Commonwealth Clash over Virginia Tech
By Eleanor Lynch | YesterdayThe Cavaliers’ fifth Commonwealth Clash victory over the last eight contests proves the athletic department’s overall success in recent years.
