Every season, collegiate athletic programs across the country cope with losing talent and experience to graduation.\n"It's one of the challenges we face as coaches because just when you feel like they are coming together after four years they have to leave," women's soccer coach Steve Swanson said.\nHow much a team is affected from losing experienced players may vary from season to season, but inevitably, there is no such thing as a "contract extension" in Division I.\nThe women's soccer team said goodbye to seven seniors last year - most notably senior defender and two-time first team All-American Nikki Krzyik. But, while Virginia graduated many important athletes, this year the program will return a familiar face to its lineup that was missing last season.\nSophomore goalkeeper Chantel Jones returns to No. 11 Virginia to once again take up her mantel between the posts after going on hiatus last year to play for the United States Under-20 National Team at the World Cup.\n"It was unreal," Jones said. "Playing for your country - there's no feeling like it in the world."\nJones' return should help bolster a backline weakened by the departure of four seniors from last year.\n"I improved throughout each session," Jones said. "I learned different things from a different coach from a new perspective and new tricks to use. I would say I've improved since then."\nAfter spending a year adding to her already considerable talent set, Jones will be challenged to make up for the lack of game experience.\n"I think the whole experience at the World Cup benefitted her," Swanson said. "But she didn't play a lot of games last year, so I think that's probably been her biggest challenge."\nAs Jones and Swanson cope with an untested backline to start the season, one staple of the Virginia squad expected to persist is the team's scoring depth. Last season, 15 different Cavaliers found the back of the net - nine of whom had at least three goals.\nThis year "I think there is going to be more spread out scoring," junior forward Meghan Lenczyk said. "We have so much depth up top - we have a ton of forwards and then people coming out of the midfield. Hopefully with the changes and with some of the new players it will be more spread out."\nWhereas Virginia will be forced to break in its new backline, the Cavaliers can count on a proven attack. Lenczyk returns to the lineup after leading the team in scoring last year with 11 goals. The second leading scorer with six goals and leading assister with 14 assists, sophomore Lauren Alwine, also will return.\n"I think that is one of the traits of our teams over the past few years," Swanson said. "If you look at the score sheet you aren't going to see one or two players getting the bulk of the scoring ... It's much harder to defend and prepare for when you have the majority of your players ... especially the midfielders and forwards getting in the attack."\nOne such midfielder that is expected to be a scoring threat will be junior midfielder Sinead Farrelly. With five goals and three assists last season, Farrelly already has been named to the preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List.\n"It kind of gives me more motivation to play," Farrelly said. "But I'm not one, personally, to be like 'I have to be the best.' I think I'm more focused on our team being a new team and that's the aspect I need to get across. If our team plays good it makes me better."\nFarrelly had to step up to fill a bigger role last year in the midline as several key midfielders dealt with injuries. Now in position to take on a leadership role from the beginning, Farrelly appreciates not only the big picture of winning, but the small steps required to achieve the program's lofty goals.\n"Clearly we set goals every year to try and win an ACC championship, NCAA final," Farrelly said. "We were happy with the wins we had [last year] but kind of unhappy at the end because we lost a game we knew we should have won. I think that's the major overall goal - if we know we can win a game, not to make dumb mistakes and lose it."\nVirginia has already faced Notre Dame and Georgetown in exhibition, and took on No. 6 Penn State last night in its first regular season matchup, losing 1-0. The Cavaliers home-opener takes place next Friday against Liberty.
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