As the "Star-Spangled Banner" boomed over the University Hall Turf Field Friday, the 21 members of the Virginia field hockey team stood hand-in-hand, their legs quivering. No, they weren't nervous. They weren't scared. They just could not wait.
After three straight road games to begin the 2000 season, the Virginia field hockey team (3-1) was thrilled to be back home and play before a friendly crowd. And what better way is there to celebrate a homecoming than a 2-0 shutout against Northwestern (1-3)?
"We were all definitely pumped up," senior goalkeeper Becky Worthington said. "We have a new turf and a new scoreboard, and we knew we were going to have a lot of people in the stands. It definitely also helped to set the pace of the game for u
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Perhaps the Cavaliers were a bit too excited at the beginning. Virginia had a slow start, as signs of sloppiness and out-of-sync plays marked a scoreless first half. Even with five corner opportunities, the Cav offense found it difficult to attack and score.
"Offensively, we were a little off the first half," junior midfielder Jessica Coleman said. "We needed to be more on the same page. I couldn't put my finger on it - what we were not doing, what needs to be fixed. I just think all 11 of us out on the field had to really step up together."
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And the Cavaliers did just that. With 12:31 to play, sophomore midfielder Katie Slocum sent a ball from the left corner across the Wildcats' goal to Coleman. She fired the ball into the net for the game's first score and her second goal of the year. Less than four minutes later, senior forward Lorraine Vizzuso tipped in a shot by freshman back Katie Jo Gerfen off a corner play, widening Virginia's lead to 2-0.
The Cavs continued their offensive pressure to the end, outshooting the Wildcats 17-7 and finishing the game with five corners in the last six minutes.
While the Virginia offense struggled and did not make its move until midway through the second half, everything seemed to be clicking for the stellar Cav defense. The Cavaliers kept the ball out of their cage with four saves by Worthington and two post saves by senior sweeper Julia Richardson.
"We knew Northwestern was going to be a really good team," Worthington said. "They pressed on, but defensively, we just stepped up and denied them the ball. Everything was just really exact and really on."
The shutout was Virginia's third straight, and the Cav defense has not allowed a goal in the past 225 minutes of game play.
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