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24 CAVALIER CORNER BY MELISSA DUDEK F ourth-year goalkeeper Tyler Kennedy has gotten off to a hot start to the 2024 season. In the second week of play, she was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week after posting her eighth career shutout, and ranking in the top 10 in the nation in both save percent- age and goals-against average. A week later, she added a second shutout when the team blanked No. 5 Maryland, 1-0, in College Park. This echoes her debut season when she led the ACC in both save percentage and goals-against average through the first month and finished the year ranked sec- ond in the conference in save percentage (.705). Coming off a Final Four run last year when she was named to the All-ACC sec- ond team, Kennedy's success this season was anticipated. She was named to the preseason NFHCA watch list, a compilation of impact players expected to vie for All- America status. Her success that first year was different. "I came in not expecting to play at all that first year," Kennedy recalled. She was one of four goalkeepers on the roster, playing behind a fourth-year and a fifth-year veteran. And, because of the huge leap in the level of play from the high school to the college game, it was highly unusual for a first-year goalie to see action immediately. Kennedy, however, was moved into that starting role five games into the season and thrived. "It was very intimidating at first, but I think we had a really welcoming team that year, very supportive," Kennedy said. "The other three goalies that year were super kind to me throughout. Taylor Henriksen and Lauren Hausheer were great role models throughout." Role models have been key in Kennedy's development. Kelsey Bing, the US Women's National Team goalkeeper at the Paris Olym- pics, was her first goalkeeping coach in her club days with the Texas Pride. "She taught me how to do everything, even how to put on the gear," Kennedy said of Bing. "When she returned for different camps when I was older, her main teaching point for me was to look at the big picture and not be too hard on myself and about setting individual goals. She helped me a lot in coaching the defense and seeing the big picture of the game." Currently, Kennedy has another goalkeep- ing veteran, UVA alumna Carrera Lucas, as her position coach. "She's very positive, which is really help- ful for me because I can kind of harp on the negative components of my play, so her positivity throughout and words of encour- agement at practice are super helpful. And I think she knows that just from being in my shoes. "[Then-associate head coach] Ole [Keus- gen] was our go-to goalkeeping coach for my first two years, and I loved that, just be- cause I kind of came in a little more on the anxious side, I wasn't as settled," Kennedy said. "Coming in as a freshman was defi- nitely startling, and his whole mentality was if you save the ball, that's a save. That was super nice to have my first two years. "I do think I fell away from form and proper technique, so it's been super helpful to regain that in these last two years." Kennedy's athleticism has made up for any self-perceived lapses in form or technique. "I feel like traditionally, you put the most unathletic kid in the goal, but I can move quickly. I might not have the best form, but I can figure it out as we play." Her athleticism led to her going into goal in the first place. She started playing soc- cer when she was 5 and decided to join her friends playing field hockey a couple of years later. "During one of my first practices for field hockey, I didn't know the rules yet, and I tried to kick the ball, like in soccer, but the coaches said, 'You can't do that.' I got very frustrated. I was like, 'I'm going to kick the ball. That's a stupid rule.' And ultimately, they said, 'If you want to kick the ball, go in the goal.' So I did. I do sometimes miss run- ning around. SHOT SHOT STOPPER STOPPER Fourth-Year Tyler Kennedy Stands Tall In Goal For UVA Field Hockey In the second week of the 2024 campaign, Kennedy was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week af- ter posting her eighth career shutout, and ranking in the top 10 in the nation in both save percentage and goals-against average. (Photos courtesy UVA)