While Virginia women's soccer coach Steve Swanson says he still considers his team to be rather "young," midfielder Caitlin Miskel is actually the only freshman who will be taking the field regularly this season.
"Caitlin has a great mentality, some great feet and a really sound soccer mind," Swanson said. "She sees the field really well and she fits in --- she doesn't look like a first year out there just because of the savvy she has on the ball."
Miskel demonstrated that know-how last Friday in the season opener against Syracuse. In her collegiate debut, she tallied two goals and an assist.
"I don't think there's anybody in our program that's surprised by her performance," Swanson said. "She has done a great job right from the very beginning of preseason."
Miskel's assist led to the first goal of the contest. In the 16th minute, she crossed the ball into the box to Kelly Quinn who then played the ball to Jen Redmond for the goal. In the 23rd minute, Miskel scored her first collegiate goal when she one-timed the ball on a cross from Alex Singer. In the second half, she scored her second goal by half-volleying the ball into the net off a cross from Jen Redmond.
"This first game was a great experience," Miskel said. "I was so excited, especially after preseason where we didn't score any goals. We created a lot of great opportunities today which we were able to capitalize on."
There are four freshmen on the Virginia roster this year. Both Megan Ashforth and Kristin Bowers are sitting out the season because of injuries and with senior Christina de Vries continuing to excel in the goal, Swanson has decided to red shirt freshman goalkeeper Chantel Jones as well.
Miskel comes to Virginia from St. Thomas Aquinas in Boca Raton, Fla. where she compiled an impressive high school resume. In 2004 and 2005, she helped her team win consecutive state championships and won the 2004 National Championship as a sophomore. She was twice named Gatorade's Florida player of the year, earned Miami Herald Player of the Year honors and was recognized as a SoccerBuzz Top 50 recruit. At the close of her high school career, she had scored 105 goals and tallied 89 assists.
Miskel comes from a long line of soccer players. Her father, John Miskel, played soccer for James Madison University and her mother, Bonnie Miskel, was on both the soccer and track teams at Wesleyan. Despite her familial soccer ties at other schools, however, Miskel says she knew Virginia was the right choice for her because it was the perfect combination of soccer and academics.
For many, that very combination of a Division I sports program and rigorous academics proves a difficult balancing act. Miskel, however, seems to be handling it well.
"I was nervous about balancing the team and schoolwork, just because it is all new," Miskel said. "But I did the third summer school session so I have already taken a few classes and figured out how to balance it with weight training, workouts and practice."
Miskel, along with the rest of the women's soccer team, will take on VCU tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at Klöckner field.
"It stinks the other [freshman] girls aren't playing with me," Miskel said. "But right now I really feel confident on the field and that is exactly the position I want to be in."
Read More
Volleyball holds off Boston College in tight five-set win
By Lauren Halak | 20 hours agoSenior outside hitter Elayna Duprey led the team throughout the match with 22 points and 18 kills.
Virginia annihilated 41-14 in a must-win contest versus North Carolina
By Peter Kriebel | 2 days agoJust about everything that could have gone wrong for Virginia football went wrong.
No. 24 women’s soccer not to be denied in late win over Clemson
By Sam Chun | 2 days agoThe Cavaliers topped Clemson 1-0 in front of a packed out Klöckner Stadium.
