The Virginia women’s field hockey team, currently No. 11 in the nation, is looking to make its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament despite fielding a very young team this season Luckily for the Cavaliers, two talented first years, midfielder Paige Selenski and midfielder/defender Michelle Vittese are already making a big impact.
Both Vittese and Selenski are seasoned beyond their years because of their experience in national and international competition. Both players were Junior Olympians in 2005, Vittese winning gold, and in 2007, Selenski and Vittese were both members of the US U-21 National Squad. This fall they will compete for the United States at the Pan American Games in Mexico City as a part of the Junior National Team. The added experience is no doubt making the difference as the two freshmen make the transition to collegiate field hockey.
“I’ve been playing at this level for a little while; Paige and I both have been playing at this level,” Vittese said, “playing against Argentinian girls that are 10 times better than girls from Providence.”
Vittese is a two-time participant in the Futures Elite program and competed at the Junior National Camp twice. Selenski was thrice a member of the national U16 team, and was named the Pennsylvania AA and Overall State Player of the Year in 2007.
This past weekend, both freshmen made their presence known on the field during home matchups against Providence and William and Mary. Selenski scored one goal in the Cavaliers’ 4-1 victory against Providence and notched one goal in the 5-0 win against William & Mary. Vittese added an assist and a goal in the Providence game. For her efforts, womensfieldhockey.com named Vittese its National Rookie of the Week.
The statistics speak for themselves.
“I am adjusting to [the system] pretty well and I think it’s really going to work playing against harder teams and more competitive teams throughout the season,” Selenski said.
Virginia coach Michele Madison’s system of play requires players to step up and challenge the ball with the knowledge that their teammates will fall in behind to cover.
“The more we play it, the more it works, the more we want to play it,” Vittese said. “When someone steps up everyone has to step up behind them, and if we don’t do that then it doesn’t work. When it works it’s really fun.”
Success for this young Cavalier team depends on the ability of its younger players to rise to the challenge right away. So far, the team seems satisfied with its newest players’ efforts
“They have stepped up and made everyone else step up too,” senior midfielder Lucy Meyers said.
As the team continues to grow, both Vittese and Selenski already have their sights set on the NCAA Championship.
“We want to go all the way as always, but we will see,” Vittese said. “We want to get better as a team and get closer and closer, because the closer we mesh, the better we will play together, we will trust each other more and rely on each other.”
Read More
Coach Brian O’Connor to leave Virginia baseball for Mississippi State, sources say
By David Sewall and Xander Tilock | 53 minutes agoVirginia's venerated leader is leaving.
Virginia men’s golf loses in final match after historic run at NCAA Championship
By Ben McNiff | 3 days agoVirginia made history, and then some more, before falling in the final.
Virginia baseball excluded from NCAA Tournament
By Xander Tilock | 6 days agoThe Cavaliers' season is over.
