For the first time this season, the University of Virginia women's soccer team substituted its regular goalie, junior Christina de Vries. Sophomore Laura Comeau played the entire second half of both games this weekend.
Comeau was a 2003 NSCAA All-American and a 2004 Parade All-American. This was her first collegiate start, however, after missing the entire 2004 season playing on the U-19 U.S. National team that placed third at the U-19 World Championships in Thailand.
Comeau's substitution into the game was unprecedented yet fortunate for the Cavaliers. Last year, de Vries played the entire season except for 20 minutes. Virginia's ability to earn early leads before halftime gave Comeau the experience she has been looking for.
"It felt great," Comeau said about getting to play over the weekend. "Because I wasn't here last semester, those were my first college minutes. I was just really excited to get in, to be with the girls and be part of the team."
De Vries, who hails from California, set a Virginia single-season shutout record with 13 last year. She comes into the 2005 season with the highest career goals against average (GAA) in school history at 0.554. De Vries also has the veteran experience needed, after saving a penalty kick last season against North Carolina in the sixth round of the shootout, to secure Virginia's first-ever ACC Tournament title. De Vries lowered her record GAA this past weekend by allowing no goals and not needing to make a save in either of the games' first halves.
Comeau, however, also proved herself capable by making a save in her first game of the weekend. Like de Vries, Comeau also did not need to make a save in the second game, thanks to the solid Cavalier defense.
What de Vries and Comeau bring depth to the goalkeeper position, and freshman Celeste Miles also makes a great addition to this position.
Miles came to Virginia this season after helping her club team win five North Texas State Cup Championships and three national third place finishes. The talent of De Vries, Comeau and Miles will only increase as each goalkeeper competes in practice for time on the field.
"Every minute's a competition for each other," Comeau said. "We just work to make each other better."
Last season, the Cavaliers held their collective breath each time de Vries went up for a jump ball, as she was the only healthy goalkeeper on the roster. This season, it is clear Virginia coach Steve Swanson appreciates the Cavaliers' newfound depth at goalkeeper.
"We're in a position where we feel real confident about that depth at goalie," Swanson said. "I'm not saying we're making any changes or anything like that, but I think for us to get Laura [Comeau] some time tonight and this weekend was important just because of her injury and things like that. We're in a much better position then we've been in a long time in goal, and we feel confident in all those kids."
Read More
For Virginia softball, the map to victory is clear — it’s also on the wall
By Cierra Lyles | 1 hours agoA team tradition inspires a culture of success.
Hylton shatters home run record, but No. 25 Virginia drops series to No. 15 Stanford
By Ben McNiff | 3 hours agoLook for Virginia to conclude the regular season this Wednesday with a home meeting versus Liberty.
Shoddy bullpen pitching kills Virginia’s bid for a series sweep of No. 24 Georgia Tech
By Ryan Weiner | 6 hours agoThe Cavaliers nearly captured a sweep, but fell just short.
