By the end of last year, Virginia had established itself as a member of the country's field hockey elite, compiling a 14-8record with the fifth-toughest schedule in the nation. The Cavaliers finished the season ranked in the top 10 nationally and received their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2001. They also notched their first ACC victory in six years, and to top it all off, head coach Michele Madison was given national coach of the year honors by womensfieldhockey.com in her first year with the team. The Cavaliers were not able to ride the wave of momentum from last season, however, as they dropped their first game Sunday to Penn State 3-1.
This season, the Cavaliers face the challenge of repeating last year's success not as the underdog, but as the No. 8 team in the nation. The team's schedule is once again relentless, as 10 of its opponents are ranked in the top 20. Rather then seeing the grueling schedule as an obstacle, however, Virginia sees it as an opportunity.
"We know what we have to do, we don't have to sit around and guess what you have to do," Madison said of the schedule. "It's right in your face, it's obvious."
Despite the team's achievements last year, however, the Cavaliers still want to prove their skill, particularly against the rest of the ACC, easily the country's most powerful conference. Each of the six ACC teams is in the top 10 nationwide, and the ACC owns all of the top four rankings
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