Gillian Hatch knows she doesn't have the physical capabilities of a great soccer player. She knows that her competition is almost always faster and stronger than her. She refuses to let any of that stop her.
"I can't run," Hatch said. "But, I can think."
The junior defender has helped lead a Virginia defense that has only let up three goals in four games this season. Playing in the middle, she has been very successful in organizing the defensive unit.
"From the moment she's stepped in she's been an integral part of this team," Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. "She's a tremendous technical player and an astute student of the game. It's like having a coach on the field."
Hatch's ability to think quickly on her feet paid huge dividends for Virginia in their season opener against West Virginia.
With the score tied and under four minutes left in the game, Hatch lined up for a free kick about 25 yards from the goal. The play that was called had Hatch knocking the ball behind to a teammate, but after seeing the way the Mountaineer defense lined up Hatch decided to scratch the play and shoot right at the goal.
Her kick glanced off one member of the West Virginia wall and sailed passed the outstretched hands of the Mountaineer goalkeeper. Hatch's foresight resulted in the winning score.
"It's the one advantage I have," Hatch said. "I'm not fast and I'm not quick so I have to make up for it."
Although Hatch will not be the only player to take free kicks this season, Swanson has already called her number a few times during big situations, such as the West Virginia game.
"Her ability to strike any kind of ball stands out," Swanson said. "Gilly does a great job with that."
She has already been recognized for her efforts this season, named to both the Soccer America and Soccer Buzz teams of the week Sept. 4.
Hatch is the most acclaimed returning player from last year's defense, a lineup that finished in the top-10 nationally in fewest shots allowed per game. She came away with second team All-ACC last season and finished third on the team in minutes played with 1,821.
As a freshman, she started 20 games and was a first team Freshman All American and Freshman All Mid-Atlantic.
Growing up in Wisconsin, Hatch joined a German soccer team in her neighborhood in first grade. Although she played since she was young, she never considered playing soccer in college until her high school years.
"I had always played but never really thought about it," Hatch said. "In high school I got a lot of encouragement from my coaches to keep going with it."
At Virginia, she is known for more than just her ability to play intelligently. She is respected among her teammates for her selflessness on the field.
"Gillian works hard for everyone else on the team," junior defender Katie Bunch said. "She is a very unselfish player."
Hatch makes no bones about her lack of speed and agility. But when she's leading one of the top defenses in the country and scoring game winning goals on penalty kicks, that small detail tends to go unnoticed.
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