The Virginia field hockey team kicks off the 2001 campaign on a quest for its fourth consecutive NCAA tournament berth and with its eye on the ACC championship. The Cavaliers will rely on the experience of senior captains Mason White, Carrie Goodloe and Jessica Coleman to lead a core squad of underclassmen through a challenging schedule that includes 2000 NCAA Champion Old Dominion and ACC foes Maryland and North Carolina.
Coach Jessica Wilk, back for her second season at Virginia, said the leadership of the graduating class sets the squad apart.
"The strength of our team is our leaders this year, to be quite honest," Wilk said. "We only have three seniors, but they're a very strong class. They lead by example. They really set the tone for us every day in practice, and I expect that to be one of the reasons we're successful this year."
Goodloe said she hopes team chemistry will yield successful results.
"In my four years here, I really feel like this team is the closest I've ever been on," she said. "Not only do we get along great off the field, but we've meshed well this year together on the field and we're playing really well together, so I'm excited."
The Cavaliers will look for midfield offensive power from Goodloe and senior All-American Coleman. Coleman has been Virginia's leading scorer the past two seasons and is in position to score her 100th career point this year. Goodloe, a three-year starter, ranks third on the all-time Virginia career assists list with 39. White delivers in the backfield, where she earned minutes in 17 of Virginia's 21 games last season.
With just three seniors on the roster, a pack of skilled underclassmen will have to step into crucial roles for the Cavaliers. Sophomore Emily White, a veteran of the U.S. Under-21 National Team, will step up from reserve to full-time goalkeeper. White racked up nine saves in 126.5 minutes on the field for Virginia last season.
Juniors Katie Slocum and Rosie Walker and sophomore Katie Jo Gerfen should contribute all year. Slocum and Walker have experience on both the forward and midfield lines. Gerfen is young but started every game last season as a freshman.
With its difficult schedule, Virginia will need solid work from the entire squad.
"We have a very tough schedule," Wilk said. "I think it's probably one of the top five in the country. We open up with Michigan, who's ranked number four. Everybody in the ACC is in the top 10. I think that's the only way to get better, to play against the best teams day in and day out. It makes you a better team and hopefully that pays off around NCAA tournament time."
"I think we're focusing on every game as it comes," Mason White said. "Obviously this year we're expecting to beat those big teams that we always have trouble with such as UNC, Maryland and ODU. Just focusing one game at a time and building up to the top."
Wilk believes that if the Cavaliers play up to their ability, they will enjoy a successful season.
"I think we're focusing on being consistent," Wilk added. "I think we have the ability to be very good at times, and we also have the ability to be not so good at times. We're fighting for a high level of consistency, really executing day in and day out against the top teams"
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