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APRIL 2023 23 playing her game to make that happen. "I get better working with my team be- cause we have so many options on our at- tack," Clark said. "If the defense slides early to me, a teammate is open. It's making me better, figuring out how to beat that. "I need to improve my versatility a little bit. But I like the pressure because I do ex- pect a lot out of myself and out of the team. So, it's good. We're getting better." After six games last season, the Hoos stood at 3-3. The 2023 campaign has looked a bit different, with the Hoos stand- ing at 6-0 and currently in second place in the ACC. With strong wins over ACC oppo- nents Louisville and Clemson, Clark and the Hoos have earned some respect in the early going. Following an 18-12 win against Elon March 5, the Cavaliers were ranked No. 9 in the nation by Inside Lacrosse. The Virginia offense has shared the wealth this season, outscoring its first six opponents 103-62 with 10 different goal scorers. At this juncture, Clark was leading the team in scor- ing with 29 points and was second in goals scored with 23. She recorded a career-high 7 goals against Louisville, coming on 9 shots for a 77.8 shooting percentage. Her offensive dominance also was on dis- play when one game earlier when she net- ted 6 goals on 15 shots against Princeton. So far this season, she has a .418 shooting percentage and has put an impressive 70.9 percent of her shots on goal. This type of play brings more than just outside eyes. Coaches and players expect not only clutch plays during games, but also an energy level and willingness to set an example for the team. "As a large contributor on the team, there is a set of expectations that come with that," Clark said. "I am not a first-year; I am still an underclassman, but a lot of my team- mates look to me, and my coaches look to me to step into a leadership role. "I am naturally a little on the shyer side, so stepping into a leadership role is some- thing I am striving to do." Clark's job has grown beyond performing on the field on game day. But just like all the challenges that she has faced thus far, Clark is rising to the challenge of leadership while she strives to continue raising that bar for the Hoos. Clark finished with a first-year record of 64 goals scored in 2022 en route to earning ACC Freshman of the Year honors. (Photo courtesy UVA)