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22 CAVALIER CORNER FIELD HOCKEY PREVIEW BY MELISSA DUDEK F resh off back-to-back seasons with runs to the ACC Championship final, Virginia field hockey head coach Michele Madison and her team are excited to hit the blue turf in August. "The excitement for me is hands down with this team," Madison said. "They are de- termined and so exciting to coach. And even more exciting to watch play." Madison heads into her 18th season lead- ing the Cavaliers with a roster that offers "ver- satility, exciting skills and depth on every line." As the saying goes, defense wins champion- ships. The Cavaliers have both an experienced defensive back line and one that has already won a championship in third-year Jans Croon, second-year Madison Orsi and incoming first- year Mia Abello. Croon, Orsi and Abello, along with second-year midfielder Daniela Mendez- Trendler, played for the United States U-21 team that won the gold medal this spring at the Junior Pan Am Cup and qualified for De- cember's U21 Junior World Cup. Croon, Orsi and Abello will play in front of a trio of experienced goalkeepers in third-years Tyler Kennedy and Jackie Stinger and first-year Nilou Lempers, who hails from Amsterdam. Third-year core defender Emily Field looks to complete the back-line foursome with fourth-year Meghen Hengerer and second- year Lauren Kenah able to do double duty at defensive mid and in the back four. Madison is equally optimistic about the offensive potential of her squad. "The core of the front six players is deeper than it has ever been," Madison said. "A returning unit of core players naturally inter- change through the lines. Returners Anneloes Knol, Esha Shah, Sloan Davidson and Taryn Tkachuk provide striker and pressing roles." Among the "core players" returning are a pair of fifth-years: striker Laura Janssen and midfielder Adele Iacobucci. Janssen, a two-time all-region honoree, led the team in scoring (26 points) and ranked sixth in the ACC in goals per game (0.57) last season. She comes into the 2023 season with 71 career points (33 goals and 5 assists). Iacobucci, a three-time first-team all-region honoree, has started 76 games over the last four seasons and has been a fixture in UVA's midfield. Both will use their COVID bonus year of eligibility to pursue master's degrees while bolstering the Cavaliers' goal-scoring abilities. Last season's breakout star, Mendez- Trendler, returns for her second season with the Cavaliers. The midfielder was a third-team All-American, the sixth UVA player to be named an All-American in her rookie season. She also earned a place on the All-ACC first team by tallying 19 points (8 goals and 3 assists). Fourth-year Lilly Hengerer, third-year Noa Bo- terman and second-year Caroline Nemec will also be crucial elements of that midfield core. In addition to the 18 returning letter win- ners, the Cavaliers have five incoming first- years and a pair of graduate transfers from the University of California. Rachel Buttinger led the Golden Bears in points last season, while midfielder Megan Connors, a former United States Under-19 Junior National Team member, earned America East All- Tournament honors in 2021. "The newcomers, including the grad transfers, all have the potential and ability to add value to the squad," Madison said. "Once they get the 'UVA Way' systems under their belt and build connections on the field, they will have to compete for playing time every day, every minute, every second. "The challenge for the coaches will be to utilize as many talents as possible. The challenge for the team will be to compete. They need to bring their game in practice and be ready to put it out on the field when their name is called for however long they are on the field." It will not just be the talented defense, the experienced midfield, and the explosive strik- ers that will hopefully bring Madison her 15th NCAA Tournament berth since coming to UVA, but the greatest intangible: chemistry. "This team loves to compete against each other and then finish the training with a hug or high five," Madison said. "The days can't go fast enough until we are together to start the final prep for opening day." Deep, Versatile Cavaliers Positioned To Compete In 2023 2023 SCHEDULE Date Opponent Time (ET) Aug. 25 Penn State 6 p.m. Aug. 29 Liberty 1 p.m. Sept. 1 at Saint Joseph's 4 p.m. Sept. 3 at Temple 1 p.m. Sept. 8 at William and Mary 5 p.m. Sept. 10 Harvard 12 p.m. Sept. 15 Boston College* 5 p.m. Sept. 18 Maryland 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Syracuse* 4 p.m. Sept. 29 at Louisville* 3 p.m. Oct. 1 at Miami (Ohio) 12 p.m. Oct. 6 Duke* 5 p.m. Oct. 13 at Wake Forest* 5 p.m. Oct. 15 at Duke 3:30 p.m. Oct. 20 North Carolina* 4 p.m. Oct. 24 at James Madison 5 p.m. * ACC match Fifth-year striker Laura Janssen, a two-time all-region honoree, led UVA in scoring (26 points) and ranked sixth in the ACC in goals per game (0.57) in 2022. (Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVA)