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The Virginia women’s soccer team is off to a 2-0-0 start in conference play after wins at Florida State and Miami. Leading the Cavaliers in those wins was sophomore forward Meghan Lenczyk, who scored the game-winning goals in both contests. For her efforts, she was named co-ACC Player of the Week and the Soccer America National Player of the Week. VirginiaSports.com caught up her to talk about her accolades, the wins in Florida, and Thursday’s ACC home opener against NC State (7 p.m.).
Question: You received a couple of big accolades on Tuesday with a pair of Player of the Week awards. How does it feel to have people take notice to the performances you have been having recently on the field?
Lenczyk: I am excited about it and actually a little surprised. You never really expect to get awards like that. I am just grateful for my teammates who have played just as well and have done a great job of giving me opportunities to score. The most important thing about those awards is that you tend to get them when your team is winning.
Question: You are tied for the ACC lead with eight goals this season, which is already two more than you had all of last season. What has been the biggest difference in your game this year compared to last year?
Lenczyk: I honestly think a lot of it is confidence. That, and my teammates have set me up to score, especially Lauren Alwine who has done it often in recent games. Also, just having a year of experience has helped. Last year I was learning to play at this level and now I know what to expect.
Question: You mentioned Lauren Alwine. In the team’s last four wins, you have scored the game-winning goal on an assist from her. How have you been able to mesh with the newcomers, especially Lauren, so quickly?
Lenczyk: I think it is just one of those things that just happen. We have gotten an understanding sense of how each other plays. She knows where I am going to make my runs and I know where she is going to send the ball. She has sent some perfect balls to set me up and that makes it a lot easier for me.
Question: How important was last week for the team, to not only open the ACC season with two wins, but two road wins?
Lenczyk: That was huge. That was our longest trip of the season. We had numerous flights and were on the road for almost a week. It was big for us to win both of those games. It sets us up well for the remainder of the season.
Question: Were those victories also important to bounce back from the loss at West Virginia the week before?
Lenczyk: Coach Swanson said that we have to rise to the challenge of bouncing back from that game, since it was our first loss of the season. It shows a lot of character from our team to come back the way we did with the performances in Florida.
Question: On Thursday, you play NC State at Klckner Stadium. It is the only home game in a six-of-seven game stretch of road games. How excited is the team to get a chance to play at home again?
Lenczyk: It is going to be great to get back to Klckner. I think the whole team is glad to be home because we have been gone so much recently. All of the traveling does take a toll on you, so we need to take advantage of being at home this week.