The Virginia women's field hockey team will resume its regular season schedule tonight at Klockner Stadium against an undefeated Richmond squad that is off to its best start in school history. The Cavaliers head into the game after shutting out Southwest Missouri State, 4-0, in Athens, Ohio, on Sunday for their third consecutive win.
"I'm really excited about playing on our home turf," senior co-captain Carrie Goodloe said. "It should be a nice change from our past month on the road. Richmond is always a tough competitor, and I anticipate that this match will be a physical one as it has in years past."
Virginia co-captains Jessie Coleman, Mason White and Goodloe have been instrumental in the Cavaliers' success out of the gate this season. Coleman racked up two goals against Southwest Missouri State, her sixth and seventh of the season. White picked up two assists and Goodloe forced a penalty corner in the second half that Coleman converted for a goal.
The Cavaliers (3-1) also have been getting help from sophomores Katie Jo Gerfen and Emily White. White stepped into the starting slot at goalie this year and has proven herself capable with 17 saves, four against Southwest Missouri State. Midfielder Gerfen, who started every game for the Cavaliers last year as a true freshman, earned her first two assists of the season in Sunday's game.
Virginia will be up against a Richmond team on a tear. The Spiders (5-0) have seen a lot of change this year, debuting in the Atlantic 10 conference and playing their first season under new coach Ange Bradley. The change seems to be working. Richmond has disposed of each of its opponents handily so far this season, most recently downing Towson 3-1.
Senior All-American Heather Rice stands poised to break the school record for career goals - she is three shy at 53 - and sophomore Brittany Parrish has had a phenomenal start to her season, notching four goals in the first five games. Junior Jill Murphy has contributed four goals as well, including one unassisted against Towson.
Freshman goalkeeper Jennifer Alpert has been a defensive star for the Spiders. She's allowed one goal or fewer in four consecutive games and earned five saves against Towson.
Virginia coach Jessica Wilk knows that her players have a tough road ahead of them, both in returning to the field after the tragedy of last week's events and, on a more superficial level, facing a squad as strong as Richmond's.
"Obviously we're going to try to return to some sense of normalcy Wednesday night," Wilk said. "We're looking forward to being back on the field as a team. We're going to have to come ready to play. You want to play the good teams, though. We're looking forward to the challenge"
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