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This week the Virginia women’s soccer team closes out the regular season with a pair of home matches against Duke (Thursday at 7 p.m.) and Wake Forest (Sunday at 2 p.m.). VirginiaSports.com caught up with senior defender Nikki Krzysik to preview the games, including Sunday’s game that will be senior day for her and her classmates.
Question: You are coming off a disappointing loss to North Carolina last week. What is the team doing to bounce back from that loss this week?
Krzysik: We have two games left in the ACC and we are just looking forward. The UNC game is over with and we took what we could learn from that game and now have our focus on Duke.
Question: The two games this week will determine your seeding not only in the ACC Tournament next week, but also be key for seeding in the NCAA Tournament. How important are these games?
Krzysik: These games are huge. These two games could be the last two games we play at Klöckner. We are going to do everything we can to win these games and hopefully give us some more chances to play at home in the postseason.
Question: You mention these possibly being the last home games. Can you believe that Sunday is your senior day?
Krzysik: These four years have flown by. I have had so many great times here. I take pride wearing a Virginia jersey and playing at Klöckner and it is going to be real sad when that’s over.
Question: Looking back, what has been your fondest memory of playing at Klöckner?
Krzysik: I think the William & Mary game last year (in the NCAA Tournament) was so exciting. We have been on the opposite side of games like that and lost in the final seconds. To win a game like that, in the last 10 seconds, was unbelievable.
Question: Was that game even more special to you since you scored the game-winning goal?
Krzysik: That was the icing on the cake. It was a win that moved us into the round of 16, so it was a big goal for whoever would have scored it.
Question: When the season is over, how will you look back at your place in Virginia soccer history?
Krzysik: I am just proud to be a part of it. Hopefully my class and I have left a mark here. Now we have one more chance this postseason to add to that legacy and hopefully we have some big things left to accomplish.