After consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances, the Virginia field hockey team will rely on seasoned veterans, coupled with the enthusiasm of nine new recruits and an new coaching staff, to continue their winning ways this season.
The foremost change on the Cavalier field hockey team is coach Jessica Wilk, who stepped up from the assistant coaching position she has held since 1993. In her first season at the helm, she will have the tremendous task of continuing the program's success, and filling the coaching shoes of Missy Sanders. Sanders resigned in February to spend more time with her young children.
Wilk has been well educated in the Virginia system over the last six years, but expects to leave her mark on a program that is on the rise.
"I have some ideas of my own, and I am really looking forward to working with this group of athletes," Wilk said. "I'm not really looking at it like I'm a rookie. I'm excited about the opportunity to be head coach and I learned a great deal from Missy Sanders."
Helping out with the coaching duties is asst. coach Mary Casbian and Virginia product Frances West, both appropriate additions to the coaching staff. Casbian comes to the Cavs from Harvard where she was an assistant coach in 1997 and 1998.
Along with a new coaching staff and nine first years, several of the team's key players are returning. Fourth-year forward Meredith Elwell and third-year forward Lorraine Vizzuso come back to Virginia turf, setting the framework in place to forge a very competitive squad.
"Elwell and Vizzuso are extremely dangerous forwards with tremendous speed," Wilk said. "They have great experience and have been doing a nice job of helping the younger kids on the attacking end of things."
Both Elwell and Vizzuso have to lead a Cavalier team that lost its all-time leading scorer Meridith Thorpe when she graduated in May and equally talented playmaker Michelle Vizzuso, whose eligibility has expired although she remains a student.
Also key in the expected success of this year's team is the return of a strong midfield with second-year Jessica Coleman and fourth-year Laura Lindsay. Both players look to anchor the midfield, which will have some young talent taking their place between the lines.
"All have great speed and good skill," Wilk said. "We have some newcomers in the midfield with first-years Katie Slocum, Rosemary Walker and Kelli Hill--they all bring a strong high school record and work ethic to the midfield."
The upcoming season also looks bright in the backfield. Returning between the pipes is third-year goalkeeper Becky Worthington. Her strong play in net last year will pose definite problems for opposing teams this season.
"We have tremendous strength in the backfield and we are looking to build on that in the fall," Wilk said.
The team will test its mettle early in the 1999-2000 season facing the likes of Michigan and North Carolina early on.
"I like that we're starting off with some challenging teams right away," Wilk said. "It will give us a good indication of where we are early in the season, and let us know about the things we need to improve upon, and show us the things we're doing well at that point."
Despite comparisons to last year's success, this year's field hockey team will have to grow together and experience the pains of that growth. Last year's team will be tough to replace, but the youthful talent and experience of this year's team may be enough to make waves in the ACC.
"I don't think you replace last year's team, you just bring in new kids and look to reload," Wilk said. "We're different, with a different personality, and I am looking forward to that"
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