UVa Women's Soccer Set For NCAA First Round
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Nov. 15, 2001
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MEET THE COACH: Steve Swanson is in his second season as the head coach of the Virginia women’s soccer team. He took over the position from current United States National Team Head Coach April Heinrichs in the spring of 2000. In his second season, Swanson holds a 25-11-3 (.641) record at the helm of the Cavaliers, back-to-back 11-win seasons. The 2001 team is the eighth team in school history to win at least 14 games in a season. Three members of this year’s team earned All-ACC honors, and and two more were named to the All-Rookie team. Lori Lindsey captured ACC Player-of-the-Year honors for a second year in a row. Swanson completed his second regular season in Charlottesville, guiding the team to a 13-3-1 overall record, 5-2 in the ACC and 5-0 against Virginia teams. Proving the team’s credibility, the Cavaliers defeated five ranked opponents (West Virginia, William & Mary, Brigham Young, Maryland, Florida State and Wake Forest) and tied another (Florida). Also highlighted on the 2001 campaign was a seven-game winning streak, as well as winning nine of their final 11 games of the regular season. The Cavaliers’ second-place finish in 2001 is the highest in school history. Swanson finished the 2000 campaign, his first in Charlottesville, with a 11-8-1 overall record and led the Cavaliers to their second consecutive appearance in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. before falling to eventual champion North Carolina, 2-1. Three Virginia players received postseason accolades, including midfielder Lori Lindsey, who was named Virginia’s first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. Swanson came to Virginia after two highly successful stops at Stanford and Dartmouth. At Dartmouth, Swanson guided the Big Green in to national prominence. He did an equally impressive job at Stanford, helping to maintain the Cardinal’s standing as one of the premier teams in the country. Swanson left after four years at Stanford. During his four seasons with the Cardinal, Swanson guided his team to a record of 48-27-4, two Pac-10 championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. His 1999 squad finished with an impressive 14-4-1 record, captured a Pac-10 title and advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament. Three of Swanson’s players were named to the 1998 All-Pac-10 team and four earned Pac-10 All-Academic recognition. Swanson also coached the 1998 Pac-10 Co-Player of the Year.
LAST WEEK: The Cavaliers went 1-0-1 in the ACC Tournament, defeating Duke, 2-1, in overtime and tying Florida State, 0-0. Florida State won 3-2 in penalty kicks, but game will be recorded as a tie on the team’s record.
THIS WEEK: Once again, Klockner Stadium has been selected as a site for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. UVa meets Liberty in a first-round matchup at 5 p.m., Friday night. William & Mary meets Wake Forest at 7:30 p.m., following the first game. The winners face off on Sunday at 1 p.m.
IN THE ACC: The Cavaliers finished the 2001 season in second place in the ACC with a 5-2 conference record, closing the season with conference home wins over Florida State and Wake Forest.
FINAL ACC STANDINGS Team (Overall, Conference For Against North Carolina (16-0, 7-0) 60 8 UVA (13-3-1, 5-2) 36 18 Florida State (13-6, 4-3) 47 33 Clemson (13-4, 4-3) 41 15 Wake Forest (9-7-1, 3-4) 34 17 Maryland (10-5-2, 3-4) 22 12 Duke (8-8, 2-5) 24 26 NC State (8-9, 0-7) 21 25
ALSO NOTEWORTHY: Lindsay Gusick, leading the team with 28 points, is also third among ACC scorers. Her 13 goals are third in the conference. She’s also fifth in points per game (1.42) and second in goals per game (0.76). Lori Lindsey’s nine goals are good enough for fifth.
JUST LOVELY, LORI: Being named 2000 ACC Player of the Year was impressive, but being named for a second consecutive year is unmatchable. Lori Lindsey was the first player in UVa history to earn Player of the Year honors, and is now only the second player in ACC history to earn the honor two years in a row. Mia Hamm (North Carolina), was the other.
WORDEN NAMED STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: Junior defender Kelly Worden was named Virginia’s Student Athlete of the Month for October. The monthly honor showcases a student-athlete who, in addition to their performance on the field, has demonstrated excellence in the classroom. The Spring, Texas, native is an education major. Worden has played in all 17 games this season, starting in 16 games. Veteran leader of Virginia’s corps of defenders, Kelly has helped the team to nine shutouts, allowing 10 or fewer shots in 14 of 19 games this season The Cavaliers are 12-1-1 in those 14 games. Worden was an All-ACC selection for a second year in a row this season.
GUSICK PILES ON THE HONORS: In addition to her earning second team All-ACC honors and being named to the ACC All-Rookie team, Lindsay Gusick picked up three more honors late last month. On Oct. 22, she was named ACC Player of the Week for a three-goal performance the week before, which included a two-goal outing at Richmond on Oct. 17 and a game-winner in overtime at Duke on Oct. 20. The following two days, she was named to Soccer America’s Team of the Week for the second time this season, and was also named to SoccerBuzz’ Elite Eight.
LINDSEY ADDED TO HERMANN AWARD LIST: On Oct. 16, senior Lori Lindsey was added to the finalist list for the Hermann Award, given annually to the nation’s top player. Named ACC Player of the Year for 2000 and 2001, she is second on the team with 21 points, matching her total from a year ago. She’s also tied for fifth in the conference with eight goals scored. Other accolades she has earned this season, include Soccer America’s “Team of the Week” on Sept. 4, and was also named to Soccer Buzz’ “Elite Eight” on Oct. 10. Lindsey has played in 80 career games at UVa.
GAWOREAT NEWS FOR GAWORECKI: Senior midfielder Laura Gaworecki was named ACC Player of the Week on Oct. 22, the first Cavalier to achieve the distinction this season. Last week, Gaworecki netted a game-winner against George Mason and added a two-goal outing, sparking a 4-1 win at James Madison.
THE FAB FIRST-YEARS: The Class of 2001 is one of the finest recruiting classes in the history of the program. Soccerbuzz.com ranked the class number one in the nation. At first, it appeared they would add depth, but after playing a key role in, helping the team to a 13-3-1 record, it appears they’ve done more than add depth.
Lindsay Gusick – a serious contender for freshman of the year honors at national level. Was third on the team with 11 shots through the first five games. In the final 12 regular season games, all games she started, she finished with 13 goals and one assist on 55 shots. Included in that span are game-winners against Liberty, William &Mary, Maryland and most recently Duke along with a hat trick against Liberty. She has scored a goal in nine of the last 11 games, a span where the Cavaliers have gone 9-2. She added another two at Richmond on Oct. 17, followed by an overtime game-winner at Duke which put her in double-figures for the season. She added a pair of goals in a 2-0 win over Wake Forest, her third multi-goal outing of the season as well as her fifth game-winner. Gusick is the fourth player in Virginia history to score 13 goals in a season, the first since Angela Hucles did in 1998. For a first-year player, Gusick is only surpassed by Hucles, who scored 17 in her first-year of 1996. Gusick’s 28 points is the seventh highest total in school history.
GOALS IN A SEASON Player Goals 1. Angela Hucles, 1997 18 2. Angela Hucles, 1996 17 3. Lindsay Gusick, 2001 13 Angela Hucles, 1998 13 Janet Caswell, 1987 13 6. Angela Hucles, 1999 11 Jill Maxwell, 1999 11 Amanda Cromwell, 1989 11 Gayle Smith, 1989 11 Janet Caswell, 1986 11 Janet Caswell, 1985 11
POINTS IN A SEASON Player Points 1. Angela Hucles, 1997 41 2. Andrea Rubio, 1990 36 3. Angela Hucles, 1998 34 Angela Hucles, 1996 34 5. Janet Caswell, 1987 33 6. Angela Hucles, 1999 29 7. Lindsay Gusick, 2001 28 Kim Smith, 1994 28 Gayle Smith, 1989 28
As a unit, it appears three freshman defenders have made the most impact as a group. This trio, under the leadership of crafty veteran Kelly Worden, of Gillian Hatch, Jamie Fabrizio and Katie Bunch on defense, is among the nation’s best. All three bring different tools to their respective positions. Hatch appears to be the rangy and instinctive defender, making it very tough for opponents to get by her. Fabrizio is very athletic and possesses a strong leg, knocking balls out of the zone most frequently. Bunch also is athletic, and is perhaps the speediest and most aggressive of the three. In the 15 games the first-year trio has started together on defense, seven of those games have been shutouts, with the opponents having 10 shots or fewer in 13 of those games. The Cavaliers are 11-3-1 with Hatch, Fabrizio and Bunch in the same starting lineup.
Jessica Trainor added her first point, an assist, in a 3-2 overtime victory over Brigham Young. It is the first of many points to come, but Trainor has been on the field virtually every minute of the season (1544, second on the team), while starting in every game this season. Trainor was also credited on an assist on a game-winner over Florida State. Keeping the ball in play and being athletic is where Trainor has made her biggest mark, which earned her a spot on the ACC All-Rookie team, as voted on by the league’s coaches.
Taylor Wood saw her first action in the fourth game of the season, and since then, has made a nice transition to the collegiate level, playing in 16 total games this season. Wood got her first assist in a 7-0 victory over Liberty on Sept. 26, and assisted on Gusick’s game-winner against Maryland. Her role has been increased, and made her biggest play of the year, netting a game-winner with less than two minutes remaining against Florida State on Oct. 28, lifting the Cavaliers to a 3-2 victory. Wood, despite not starting a game this season, is tied for sixth on the team with five points this season (1 G, 3 A).
The only first-year not to participate this season is Erin Lycan, at goalkeeper. Second-years Jodi Clugston and Anne Abernethy have been stellar in the net this season, while Lycan has been given a great opportunity to learn from two of the best as she waits for her turn.
MOVIN’ ON UP: Seniors Darci Borski and Lori Lindsey look to move up on the all-time lists. Borski, who is patiently awaiting her return to the Virginia lineup after a stress fracture in her right foot during the preseason, has 52 career points, and needs seven points this season to crack the top 10. Lori Lindsey, with her eight goals this season, just one shy of equalling her previous career high of nine set in both her first and third years, has now moved into eighth place on the career goal list. With 21 points this season, she has 71 for her career.
CAREER GOAL SCORERS Player Goals 1. Angela Hucles, 1996-99 59 2. Andrea Rubio, 1989-92 36 3. A. Cromwell, 1988-91 35 Janet Caswell, 1984-87 35 5. Gayle Smith, 1986-89 34 6. Lori Lindsey, 1998-present 31 7. Kim Smith, 1991-94 30 8. Tracy DiMillio, 1988-91 29 9. Liz Kelley, 1993-96 25 Kristen DiMillio, 1992-95 25
CAREER POINTSPlayer Years Points 1. Angela Hucles, 1996-99 138 2. Andrea Rubio, 1989-92 102 3. Gayle Smith , 1986-89 90 4. Janet Caswell, 1984-87 85 5. Amanda Cromwell, 1988-91 84 6. Kim Smith, 1991-94 75 Tracy DiMillio, 1988-91 75 8. Lori Lindsey, 1998-present 71 9. Liz Kelley, 1993-96 69 10. Kristen DiMillio, 1992-95 63 11. Dina Padula, 1994-96 59 12. Darci Borski, 1998-present 52
AMERICA SALUTES YOU: On September 4th, Lori Lindsey was named to Soccer America’s Team of the Week, following her two-goal performance in a 3-0 win in the opening game of the season over Mississippi. Three weeks later, Ashley Meeker was called upon, following her five point scoring barrage in a victory over N.C. State (2-0), which she scored both Cavalier goals and an assist which helped the Cavaliers to a tie with No. 10 Florida. On Oct. 10, Lindsay Gusick was selected to the team of the week for her goals against Brigham Young and a game-winner against William & Mary. Lindsey earned her second accolade of the season, as she was named to Soccer Buzz’ “Elite Eight” for her performance during the week of Oct. 1. Virginia’s four honorees for “Team of the Week” is more than any other ACC team. Gusick captured a double honor this past week, named ACC Player of the Week, then named to the Team of the Week for the second time this season. A day later, she too was named to SoccerBuzz’ Elite Eight.
2001 Weekly Honors earned by Cavalier players ACC Player of the Week Laura Gaworecki (Oct. 15) Lindsay Gusick (Oct. 22) Soccer America Team of the Week Lori Lindsey (Sept. 1) Ashley Meeker (Sept. 26) Lindsay Gusick (Oct. 10, Oct. 23) SoccerBuzz Elite Eight Lori Lindsey (Oct. 8) Lindsay Gusick (Oct. 24)
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: The 2001 captains are seniors Laura Gaworecki, Lori Lindsey and Tammy Westinghouse. Lindsey enjoyed a true breakout year, leading the team in scoring. Other seniors include Darci Borski, Lindsey Grubbs, Megan Leo, Ashley Meeker, Ashley Mowery and Heather Terry. Meeker was a valuable asset to the team last year, starting and playing in 18 games last season after being forced to the defender spot after injuries. She’s come through well this season,playing in 18 games and scoring seven points, including a game-winner at N.C. State on Sept. 19. Leo has played in two games this season, and has also provided leadership to this year’s team. Mowery will provide depth to the goalkeeping corps, and even chipped in with a scoreless half in a 7-0 win over Liberty earlier this season. Grubbs and Terry are coming off injuries. Gaworecki started all 20 games a year ago, adding one goal and four assists. Gaworecki has already surpassed her point production from last year, tallying four goals and three assists this year, including a game-winner against George Mason. She also assisted on Taylor Wood’s game-winner against Florida State. Westinghouse is back after missing last season with a knee injury, and is one of the more versatile athletes on the tea, and has three assists, getting all three in a 7-0 win over Liberty on Sept. 26, an individual single-game high for this season.
PROTECTING THE NAME: The Cavaliers swept their five Virginia opponents this season, outscoring them by a combined 16-1 in five games, including four shutout victories. The only goal came from James Madison on Oct. 13.
George Mason 8-8-3 James Madison 15-1-2 Liberty 1-0-0 Old Dominion 3-0-0 Radford 7-2-1 Randolph-Macon 2-0-0 Richmond 3-1-0 Roanoke 1-0-0 VCU 1-0-1 Virginia Tech 3-0-0 William & Mary 9-9-1 Totals 53-21-8 (.646)
SENSATIONAL SOPHOMORES: The Cavaliers have a solid class of five sophomores who got valuable experience as first-years and definitely played a role in last year’s success. With one year under their belt, thesophomore class looks to have an even bigger role on how far the 2001 team goes. Of offense, Sarah Lane and Erin Engelhardt both show a promising future for the Cavaliers. Lane, who scored three goals and one assist through two exhibition games, and was a member of the ACC All-Freshman team last season while playing in all 20 games and starting 17, has started 18 games this season and has two goals and three assists this year. She had arguably the finest game of her young career last week at Richmond, netting the game-winner and assisting on another. Opposite Lane on the Cavalier midfield is Erin Engelhardt, who played in all 20 games and started in 19 of them. This year, Engelhardt has started in nine games and holds the team lead in assists with five. She tied the game with a goal against Florida State on Oct. 20, fighting through a defender and a goalkeeper to do so. Engelhardt’s biggest goal came in the ACC first round game against Duke, where she scored the game-winner, four minutes into overtime. Melissa Somadelis also started in 17 games a year ago, playing in 20 last season. Somadelis continues to be a valuable defender, and has played in all 17 games, starting in four, and contributing one goal and one assist thus far.
LIKE A ROCK: Jodi Clugston, another talented sophomore, in just her second season has become one of the top goaltenders in the country. She made her return to the net on Oct. 10, shutting out Maryland in her first start since September 1. She also shut out James Madison on Oct. 13, in her third start of the year, playing 70 minutes. In her first five starts of the season, opponents went scoreless for nearly 400 minutes before Duke finally scored one on Oct. 20. For her career, she has appeared in 21 games, starting in 17 of those. Of those 17 starts, seven of them have been shutouts, including the season opener against Mississippi. Her seven career shutouts already ranks fifth in school history. Currently with a 1.12 goals against average this season, Clugston also contributed to a shutout victory over William & Mary and a 3-2 overtime win over BYU. She capped the regular season with a shutout victory over Wake Forest. Her eight complete shutouts already rank fourth in school history. Clugston has proved to be dominant in two postseason games, with a 0.37 GAA, one shutout and 150 minutes against Florida State in the second round game, without giving up a goal.
preCAREER SHUTOUTS Player Shutouts 1. Sandy Kwitnieski, 1989-92 17 2. Becky Hornbacher, 1993-94 11 Andrea Rippe, 1987-90 11 4. Shelly Shreve, 1985-88 10 5. Jodi Clugston, 2000-present 9
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT ANNE: Sophomore Anne Abernethy, playing in her first collegiate experience this season, filled in nicely for Clugston while she recovered from her injury. She picked up a win in her first start, over West Virginia, made six saves in a losing effort against Auburn, and in just her third collegiate game, shutout N.C. State in the Cavaliers’ ACC opener. She made a career-high four saves agains Florida, and has made 33 saves in ten games played games and has three shutouts already this season, with a goals against average of 1.12.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: For the season, UVa already has seven multiple-goal games by four different players. Lori Lindsey scored two goals in the first game of the season, a 3-0 win over Mississippi. Fellow senior Ashley Meeker, who had scored two goals in her previous three years, scored two unassisted goals in a 2-0 win at N.C. State. Lindsay Gusick broke onto the scene two games after Meeker, with a hat trick, sparking a 7-0 whitewashing of Liberty. Lindsey came out with another two-goal performance, including the game-winner in overtime, in a 3-2 victory over BYU. Laura Gaworecki, en route to her player of the week honors, scored two goals in a win over James Madison on Oct. 13. Continuing with the tradition, Gusick scored her second multi-goal game of the season at Richmond on Oct. 17 and her third in the regular season finale over Wake Forest.
PUT ‘EM DOWN EARLY: While the 2001 Cavaliers have shown to be strong in first halves, second halves and overtime this season, on paper they appear to be more of a first-half team, outscoring the opposition 19-4 in the first half this season. They’ve outscored opponents 2-0 in four overtime periods this season, with a 2-0-1 record.
RETURNING THE FAVOR: One of the more interesting statistics is Virginia’s two victories over Duke this season, both in very similar fashion. Both wins were 2-1, overtime victories. The first win came of Oct. 20 at Duke, the second on Nov. 8 in the first round of the ACC Tournament. In the first win, Erin Engelhardt assisted Lindsay Gusick on the game-winning goal 10 minutes into the overtime, while Gusick returned the favor in the latter game, assisting on Engelhardt’s game winner, four minutes in to the overtime in the victory on Nov. 8.