When Virginia fifth-year senior Ashley Widger walked off the field after the Cavaliers' 16-6 loss to Maryland in last season's NCAA women's lacrosse championship game May 16, it seemed to mark the end of her collegiate career. The All-American walked the Lawn not long after, receiving her degree from the University as a member of the class of 1999.
Widger, however, decided to return to the team for her final year of athletic eligibility while she pursues a masters in education. As she prepares for the No. 3 Cavs' next home game against No. 7 North Carolina tomorrow afternoon, Widger said she is happy to have another opportunity to obtain the national championship that has eluded her for four years.
"I wanted to give myself another shot," Widger said. "Knowing that we had such a strong team returning and some great first years coming in, we have a shot at the championship. These are the people I want to do it with."
At first, the Berwyn, Pa. native was not certain she would return to the team this season. After blowing out a knee her freshman year and redshirting, she struggled through two more injury-riddled seasons that saw her at the end of the bench more than at the end of a lacrosse stick. But things began to turn around for Widger in her fourth year. Finally healthy, she started as defender last season and exceeded even her own expectations by earning All-American honors. Her newfound success on the field convinced Widger to return for a fifth year.
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A strong returning core group of teammates also helped convince Widger to return. She said the prospect of rejoining a squad with outstanding chemistry was an important factor in her decision.
"I knew that if I came back, it would be with people I love to play with," she said. "I think a huge thing is being on a team when you're actually friends with people you play with. It makes playing easier because you just know the person. It's fun. We have a good time together."
The coaching staff could not have been happier to see Widger back for another season. Not only did they regain an All-American, but a lively and influential clubhouse personality as well.
"We were really excited and relieved when we found out that she was going to come back for that fifth year," Cav head coach Julie Myers said. "Her maturity and leadership is a definite benefit to everybody around her. As coaches we count on her to do an awful lot of things in terms of leading the team through example and experience. I think the team has learned a lot from her maturity and I know as a coaching staff we couldn't be luckier to have her back."
Indicative of her humility, Widger makes sure to mention that all the team's ten seniors share leadership duties. With so many players in their last year, Widger senses an air of urgency hovering over the team. In a preseason meeting organized by the seniors, the Cavs pledged to do whatever they could to hoist the national championship trophy above their heads.
"You put in so much time to get to the end and lose like we have in the past, and come in second, you might as well put in that extra 20 minutes a day to make a difference, or half-hour, or hour - whatever it takes," Widger said. "We got together as a group and just decided that everyone was going to put in the extra effort and the extra time and make more sacrifices because at the end of the year we wanted to be walking off the field with the national championship."
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