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FALL 2024 23 BY BILL BUNTING W hen Maggie Cagle arrived on Grounds as a first-year from Phoenix in 2022, she was the latest in a long line of highly touted and prized recruits to pick Virginia for their playing career. A top-30 recruit nationally, the 2020 Ari- zona Gatorade Player of the Year had been a member of multiple U.S. Youth National Teams and was expected to do big things for the Cavaliers. She did not disappoint and imme- diately made her presence felt on the pitch. Cagle assisted on the game-winning goal in the season opener against George Mason, the first of four assists through a three-game stretch to begin the season. In fact, she assisted on the game-winning goal in the first three matches of the year, con- necting with Rebecca Jarrett against Loyola (Md.) and then Haley Hopkins in a 1-0 win at No. 11 Georgetown. Cagle would continue to come up clutch throughout the season, tallying 12 assists on the year to lead all first-years nationally — seven of those assists coming on game win- ners. She also scored 4 goals, including the winning strikes against Oregon State and Wake Forest. But none were as big as her game- tying assist in the round of 16 at No. 21 Penn State to send the Hoos to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament at No. 1 UCLA. She earned All-ACC honors that season and was an All-Freshman selection, but her development was just beginning. She has continued her evolution into one of the top names on the Cavaliers' roster and in col- legiate soccer. "I have grown a lot as a player and per- son under Steve Swanson and all of our staff, so I definitely attribute my success to their help and coaching," Cagle said. "Another supporting staff member I work closely with is our sports psychologist, Ja- son Freeman, who has been a huge help all my years here. Working with him helps me to find mental balance and readiness for sport and life in general; I attribute a lot of my success to him as well. "I think one thing that is so special about our program as a whole is the amazing play- ers that have been in and currently are in the program. Being able to learn from veteran players my first year and continuing to be pushed by all my teammates even now is in- valuable and something I am so thankful for. "Lastly, I would attribute success to my love for the game of soccer. I love this sport so much, and I think when you love some- thing you put in more time and reap those re- wards. Putting in extra time on my own gives me the confidence to keep finding my flow in games, which is when I find I am at my best." In her second season, Cagle moved from a midfield role to a more attacking role as a forward. In a season that saw the Hoos riddled with injuries, she added 8 goals and 7 assists to her career ledger. Though the final tally in the win-loss col- umn wasn't what the Cavaliers expected, and the program missed the NCAA Tournament, Cagle once again was named an All-ACC se- lection and rated as the No. 35 player overall nationally by Top Drawer Soccer. "As much as last year did not go the way our group wanted, I do believe it was a huge learning experience for everyone," Cagle said. "Our team worked so hard in the spring follow- ing that season and continue to do so now. We came into this season with the idea that it is for us; we have a bit of a chip on our shoulder. We know how hard we have worked and know that we aren't done with that type of hard work. "So, it's all about trust and that work and keeping our bubble small. Our team feels very close and on the same page, which I think is due in part to how hard of a year last year was. However, we are not dwelling on last year and have put that behind us. "We are only looking at each moment and each game at a time, trying to keep improving every time we step on the field, learning from what we need to and growing as a team." With a full roster in 2024, the Cavaliers and Cagle have gotten off to a hot start — moving as high as No. 2 in the national rank- ings after an 8-0-0 start to the season and a win at third-ranked Penn State. Unsurpris- ingly, Cagle hit both goals in the second-half rally for the 2-1 win over the Nittany Lions. The start to the year has Cagle excited about what this year's squad can do, espe- cially with the drive to show that last season was an aberration for the Virginia program. "My personal goals for this season are to continue to find my intrinsic flow and confi- dence on and off the field," Cagle said. "Bal- ance, for me, is important and continuing to remember my 'why' — which includes being the best teammate while still being my most authentic self. "Soccer has always been a place of self- expression for me, so keeping that and love at the center will only allow more external suc- cess to come, although that is not the main goal. The team's success is most important. "Our team this year feels special. I really believe the sky is the limit for us if we can con- tinue to grow as a group and get better each day, which I am confident we will do." LOVE OF LOVE OF THE GAME THE GAME Maggie Cagle Is Motivated To Help The Cavaliers Keep Improving, One Outing At A Time " I love this sport so much, and I think when you love something you put in more time and reap those rewards. Putting in extra time on my own gives me the confidence to keep finding my flow in games, which is when, I am at my best." CAGLE