The Virginia field hockey team opened the season with two strong showings this weekend, defeating Virginia Commonwealth 3-0 Saturday before thrashing Ball State 7-1 yesterday.
Headlining the victory over the Rams was junior Mia Link, who scored twice to become only the third Cavalier to reach 50 points in her career.
Head Coach Jess Wilk said she was pleased with the team's opening performance but acknowledged that there was room for improvement heading into Sunday's contest.
"I think we can move even quicker and be a little bit more of a threat," Wilk said.
Senior Katie Phillips took that message to heart, picking up where she left off last year when she was second on the team in goals. Phillips deposited four goals to lead the Cavaliers. She was quick, however, to give credit to the rest of the team for her goals.
"I think we're doing a lot better job this year really supporting each other on offense and working as a team," Phillips said.
Virginia set the tone early by dominating the possessions with crisp passing and constant pressure on the Ball State defense.
"I thought the ball movement was much better today, particularly in the first half," Wilk said. "I thought we moved the ball very well and I thought we finished better."
Phillips got things started for the Cavaliers, notching Virginia's first score a mere 6:17 into the game. Freshman Margaretha Ehret recorded the assist.
Only three minutes later, Phillips struck again, this time teaming with seniors Biffy Cornielson and Sarah Miller to blast a short corner by the Ball State keeper.
Moments later, senior Allie Flynn picked up a loose ball off a short corner and scored the first of two goals at the 24:06 mark in the first half.
Flynn said she was pleased that the team was able to shake off the rust that was prevalent against VCU and put away the Cardinals early.
"I thought we were just able to connect a lot better than we were yesterday," she said. "Yesterday was the season-opener, so it was a little nerve-wracking, but today I feel like people were able to calm their nerves and really take control of the game."
The final goal of the first half came from Ehret, who scored her first collegiate goal off a short corner. Flynn and Cornielson assisted.
Leading 4-0 at the break, Virginia continued to pound away in the second half, this time with significant contribution from the bench.
The personnel flexibility afforded to Wilk by the score of the game allowed the coach to try different combinations of players. Consequently, the team as a whole came away with a better feel for how everyone can best work together.
"I was able to get a lot of people in and get them in early," Wilk said. "I thought we had a little bit of inconsistency, just getting used to gelling with different people in the lineup, but I was very pleased with everybody that came in off the bench."
The Cavaliers do not play this week but will be preparing rigorously for a showdown next weekend in Norfolk, Va. with rival Old Dominion.
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