The Virginia women’s field hockey team is looking to veteran leadership to steer an underclassmen-dominated roster.
Coach Michele Madison is in her third year coaching at Virginia and 20th year overall after coming from Michigan State. Her system has proven results, having led Virginia to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. Madison will look to seniors Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn and Lucy Meyers to help the young players master the system, so athletes quickly will come to put the team’s concerns ahead of those of individual players. The faster everyone buys into the system, the quicker they will be able to contribute on the field.
“We are trying to [make] the system better,” Madison said, “so we are just going to speed things up and get the execution better and have more depth at the positions.”
Madison has great expectations for All-Americans Sijpesteijn and Meyers. Kaars Sijpesteijn followed Madison from Michigan State and has spent three years under Madison’s leadership; she is once again expected to put up big numbers.
“I expect them to be superstars and lead by example like they do every day,” Madison said. “They work diligently day in and day out every minute of practice; you never have to spur them on, along with Traci Ragukas and Lauren Elstein who are the two third-year students. They are the same — they just work really hard [and] that is what we are banking on.”
Ragukas led the team in goals scored with 13 last season and is once again expected to be a leader on and off the field. The departure of seniors Abby Taylor and Katherine Bounds create chances for other players to step up prove themselves.
“We lost Abby Taylor in the back, and as far as communication and knowledge of the system as it would be on paper, she was one of the best,” senior goalkeeper Amy Desjadon said, “but sophomore Shelley Edmonds and freshman Floor Vogels are picking [the system] up quickly. We have some shy girls that need to not be afraid to yell at one another on the field.”
Madison will look to some new and old faces to step up and fill the voids this year.
“Devon Burnley steps up,” Madison said, “as well as Amy Desjadon; you can never buy what a fifth-year brings you because they have just been around the longest.”
Even though the Cavaliers are slim on collegiate experience, many of the underclassmen have international and outside experience. Freshmen Paige Selenski and Michele Vittese were both named to the United States Junior National Team. Along with Selenski and Vittese, sophomore Kaitlyn Hiltz, sophomore Shelly Edmonds and freshman Rachel Jennings were invited to the USA’s Field Hockey’s Junior National Camp. The fresh young talent will bring new energy and enthusiasm that they hope will help carry the team.
The season looks promising as the Cavaliers’ mix of young talent with veteran leadership is working well heading into their Friday game against William & Mary. The Cavaliers have set their sights on an NCAA Championship and will accept nothing less.
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