Carrera Lucas Named Field Hockey Assistant Coach

Virginia field hockey head coach Ole Keusgen announced today (Feb. 15) the hiring of Carrera Lucas as an assistant coach.

Lucas was a member of the Virginia field hockey team for five seasons (2014-18), including the Cavaliers’ 2016 ACC Championship campaign, twice being named to the Longstreth/NFHCA All-South Region Second Team. In her final season, the goalkeeper led the ACC in save percentage (ranking fourth in the NCAA) and saves per game, earning two ACC Defensive Player of the Week nods as well as being named the NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week and earning an invitational to play in the Victory Sports Tours/NFHCA Senior Game.

She finished her collegiate playing career with 77 appearances, a 44-22 overall record with 11 shutouts, 339 saves to 120 goals allowed, a 1.81 goals-against average and a .739 save percentage. Her 339 career saves rank seventh in program history.

After graduating from Virginia, Lucas spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Villanova, focusing on coaching the team’s goalkeepers. In 2022, she helped lead the team to its most victories since 2006 and the fifth-best winning percentage in program history. In 2023, the Wildcats made the BIG EAST semifinals for the first time since 2018.

“We are excited to add Carrera Lucas to our team to complete our staff,” Keusgen said. “Carrera will not only bring great sport-specific knowledge but, as a double graduate of the University, can provide guidance to our student-athletes in a way only very few can. Her knowledge of the sport and its modern development will have a big impact on our program.”

Lucas was also a goalkeeper for the Virginia women’s lacrosse team in her freshman year.

In addition to playing for the Cavaliers, she was a member of USA Field Hockey’s Development Team from 2017-21.

Lucas graduated from Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in media studies and a master’s degree in higher education.