A perennial NCAA powerhouse, Virginia field hockey routinely attracts players not only from all over the country, but also the world. Yet, despite representing a state school that pledges to maintain a two-thirds ratio of Virginians, the program’s in-state recruitment numbers have waned in the last few years — right now, there is just one Virginian on the team. But high school junior Brayden Johnston — the Cavaliers’ new recruit in the class of 2027 — just changed that.
“For me, field hockey is more than a sport, it’s a community and way of life,” Johnston said in a written statement to The Cavalier Daily.
Johnston, a native of Suffolk, Va., is Virginia field hockey’s first in-state recruit since junior midfielder Ria Chhina announced her commitment nearly four years ago. A local talent, Johnston began playing field hockey in a local league when she was 4 years old before graduating to TCOYO Hockey — a club team based in Virginia Beach — when she was 8.
Her superstar stock has risen drastically since her rec league days — as a member of the varsity field hockey team at Nansemond River High School, Johnston recently took home the Class 5 State Championship title as well as First Team All-Region and Second Team All-State honors. She was a key contributor to Nansemond River’s success, finishing the season with 21 goals and 10 assists. In March, Johnston was also named a Max Field Hockey Top 50 player, one of the most coveted awards in high school field hockey.
Johnston took her game to the next level when she was appointed to the U.S. U-16 Women’s National Team and Junior U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team. In April, she traveled to Valkenswaard, Netherlands to compete with the U-16 team against U-15 national teams from across Europe in the Four Nations Tournament. Johnston had the opportunity to share the field with world-class opponents such as the German, Dutch and Belgium national teams, even notching a 5-3 victory over the Germans in the process.
Johnston credited her international experience with improving her abilities both on and off the turf, emphasizing that USA Field Hockey has provided her with skills she will carry into her time at Virginia.
“The experience of national selection camp and playing abroad taught me so much regarding intensity of play and my own capabilities,” Johnston said. “From playing with new teammates and forming new friendships to learning new skills and playing with a higher level of intensity, [those] are all experiences from USA Field Hockey that will help me prepare for the collegiate level.”
Despite growing up about two and a half hours from the University, Johnston did not have a significant prior connection to the Cavaliers. It was the program’s field hockey clinics, not its revered pedigree or a fandom, that drew Johnston to Virginia field hockey. According to her, the clinics stood out amongst other Division I programs due to the improvements she saw in her gameplay after attending and the connection she formed with the coaching staff.
“I’ve always looked up to U.Va. for [the] athletics, academics and culture that the University represents,” Johnston said. “So many things excite me about playing for [Virginia] but having the opportunity to play in my home state on a competitive team is like a dream come true.”
Although it will be a couple years before Johnston officially takes her place on the roster, she is yet another promising addition to the program since former associate head coach Ole Keusgen officially took up the mantle of head coach. After a solid first year in the role, Keusgen has kept his foot on the gas, particularly with regards to recruitment.
Johnston’s commitment could signal a newfound focus on in-state talent for Keusgen and Virginia field hockey. Some of the program’s strongest players have come from Virginia — players like Class of 2025 alumna Emily Field, who led the team in assists for two consecutive years and ranked third in the ACC in assists per game with 0.56. Tapping into that talent pool would not only uplift in-state athletes but also the program.
With the commitment period open as of June 15, Keusgen and his program will look to buttress the 2027 recruiting class with talents like Johnston, particularly after the starpower of the 2025 and 2026 classes. Even after stars graduate over the next two years, if Johnston is any indication of what is to come, one thing is for sure — the distant future of Virginia field hockey is brighter than ever.
“The coaches and teammates who have crossed my path through the years have left a lasting impact on my life that I will be forever grateful for,” Johnston said. My field hockey community has molded me into the person I am today.”
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