For the Virginia women's soccer team, there is a new Lindsay in town. Two-time ACC player of the year Lori Lindsey has been the heart of this Cavalier squad for the past four years, but this season someone else has emerged as the Cavaliers' top offensive threat. Lindsay Gusick is the newcomer, and she plans to make Santa Clara feel her presence when the Cavaliers play them on the road Saturday at 4:00.
"There are a lot of things that she brings to the table that are special as a player," coach Steve Swanson said.
While most students were at home feasting on leftover turkey sandwiches last weekend, Gusick and the Cavaliers were taking care of business. Saturday night, the Cavaliers made short work of Cincinnati in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Virginia won, 4-0 at home, and posted its 17th win of the year, one shy of the school record set in 1990.
Cincinnati is not a weak defensive team. Before the game, it had surrendered only 10 goals in 23 games and goalkeeper Christy Hoffman led the nation with 14 shutouts prior to postseason play.
Gusick must have missed the memo about Hoffman - she scored six minutes into the game to put Virginia on top. Gusick went on to score twice more and assist on the fourth Cavaliers goal, which was scored by Lori Lindsey.
"It was a great start, getting a goal early," Gusick said. "I was excited to get three. It was even better to get the win."
This is not the first time Gusick has totaled seven points. She posted three goals and an assist in Virginia's 7-0 win over Liberty on Sept. 26.
Gusick does not work her magic alone. Against Cincinnati, Virginia senior Ashley Meeker got her fourth assist of the season by setting up Gusick's first goal of the game. Freshman Katie Bunch recorded her third assist as she took the ball downfield before firing a pass to Gusick, who put in the goal. All season Gusick has benefited from her teammates' strong play.
"I think my teammates make it easy for me," Gusick said. "They're putting the ball in places" for me to score.
"The nice thing for us is that the ball has been there," Swanson said. "But you still have to put it away, and she has been extraordinary this year at doing that."
Gusick's scoring has indeed been extraordinary. She leads the team with 37 points and 17 goals this season. She is second in the conference in goals scored, and she is only one goal shy of tying Angela Hucles' record for most goals in a season, set in 1997.
Taking her entire performance this season into account, Gusick has been named a finalist for the SoccerBuzz freshman of the year award.
"Right now I'm taking my time and doing the simple things well and that helps," Gusick said to explain her stellar season. "I'm trying not to make things too difficult and finish the chances I can get."
"One of her best attributes is something very hard to teach, and that's her instincts," Swanson said. "She's got great instincts, she has a knack for finding the right spot at the right time."
Gusick seems to be a sign of a bright future for Virginia soccer, and Swanson knows exactly why Gusick is so special.
"She makes it look easy," he said.
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