As the Virginia women's soccer team closes out its regular season tonight, the team will also bring to an end one of the most successful chapters in the program's history. The No. 4 Cavaliers (13-2-1, 5-2-1 ACC) square off against 7-7-2 N.C. State at 5 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium in what will be the final regular season game for seven departing seniors.
Over the past four years the combination of Erin Lycan, Lindsay Gusick, Gillian Hatch, Jamie Fabrizio, Taylor Wood, Katie Bunch and Jessica Trainor have compiled a record of 55-18-11, while helping create a winning environment within the team.
"I think they have changed the culture a bit within our program," Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. "I said at the beginning of the year that this program has always been a good program and a strong program, but you need to keep pushing the envelope. I think our seniors have been a great catalyst for that, and when we look back 30 years from now and look at the history of Virginia soccer, I think that you'll see a great program. And if you look at it, I think you'll see that the greatness started with this class."
Although all seven seniors have made a contribution to the program, only five have made a significant impact on the field this year. Lycan sustained an injury prior to the season that kept her from seeing action this year and Wood injured her knee in a victory over UCLA in early September, which sidelined her for the remainder of the season. Additionally, senior Jodi Clugston, who has been an undergraduate assistant for the past three years after sustaining two serious head injuries during her freshman year, will be leaving the team.
The five seniors that have remained healthy, however, have led the Cavaliers to their current No. 4 ranking. Forward Gusick leads the team with 11 goals and the foursome of Trainor, Fabrizio, Hatch and Bunch anchor a defense that has given up a meager eight goals the entire season.
Along with their stellar play, the seniors have brought invaluable leadership to the younger players, who say they will miss the guidance greatly.
"They are kind of irreplaceable as leaders," sophomore midfielder Shannon Foley said. "This team would be nowhere without them. They are remarkable people on the field and off the field, and they have been the gel of this team. They hold this team together. They are our best friends; we are going to miss them next year."
In addition to being the final game for the seniors, tonight's matchup against N.C. State is the final tune-up before the ACC tournament begins next week. The Cavaliers will look to finish the season strong in order to gain momentum heading into the postseason.
"I think the biggest thing now is to make sure [we] are fresh," Swanson said. "We have some momentum again and I think the team is feeling confident. We have a big game that we want to finish out strong on. And if we can do that, I think we can head into the ACC tournament with a lot of steam, and that's what you need."
The Cavaliers will look to the senior class to lead the team deep into the postseason this year, a task they have been unable to accomplish in recent years.
After two consecutive losses in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament, Virginia will look to build on its momentum and advance deeper into the tournament. For the seniors, it's their last chance to prove that they are more than just a regular season wonder.
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