COLLEGE PREVIEW 2014 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S TOP 20 7 Casey Bocklet F
Enemy Lines WHAT RIVAL COACHES SAY
“Good returning talent and a solid incoming class... Unfortunately, they may not even be near the top of the best conference in America. How will that affect their psyche?... Does strong finish in 2013 power them to a better start in 2014?… Every year they bring in some of the top recruits, and every year they are on the bubble being barely .500. I don’t expect much to change.”
Virginia CAVALIERS
2013 RECORD: 11-10 (1-4 ACC) COACH: JULIE MYERS (19TH YEAR) • RECORD AT VIRGINIA: 256-101
09 10 11 12 13
Schedule Feb 9
Key Game The Cavaliers’ first
ACC matchup will be an important early test to see how the new fast-paced style pays off in big games. Virginia lost 10-9 last year in New York, despite a three-goal lead at halftime.
Feb 15 Feb 19 Feb 23 Feb 28 Mar 8
Mar 12 Mar 15 Mar 19 Mar 22 Mar 26 Apr 1 Apr 5
Apr 10 Apr 13 Apr 16
* in Atlanta
ootball has the no-huddle offense, basketball a fast-break game and now Virginia women’s lacrosse is
trying its own version. After coming up short in several big
games last year, Virginia found itself in need of a drastic change from its traditional finesse game. Veteran coach Julie Myers sat down with offensive coordinator Colleen Shearer and decided the Cavaliers need to take more chances. They said the up-tempo approach they saw in other sports could work with their personnel, too. It’s a change
Myers believes is necessary if the team wants to return to the final four for the first time since 2007. The
Cavaliers
reached a point last year where at
7-8 they
were facing the possibility
of
missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in Myers’ 18 years as coach. “We’ve been playing a pretty deliberate
game for a few years and we’ve won games, but we haven’t won the big ones,” Myers said. “We are trying to hunt down the Marylands, the Carolinas, the Northwesterns and the Syracuses
58 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2014 >> X-Factor A LIZA BLUE (SR.)
Blue missed eight games in 2013 because of mono, but finished with 16 goals. She’s another threat for the Cavs.
— those final four teams that we haven’t beaten in a few years. When you play slow and deliberate, you have to be perfect, and it’s too hard to be perfect.” The biggest question is how a rebuilt
midfield will manage such a rapid transition. Myers said her team has enough speed in the midfield to make the new approach work and experienced attackers to capitalize on chances. Starters Ashlee Warner, Casey Bocklet
and Courtney Swan all return on offense, as does key contributor Liza Blue. Bocklet, the team’s leading scorer last season, said the attackers are ready to take more risks. “We are looking to go to goal and shoot
a lot more,” Bocklet said. Virginia has Morgan Stephens to help
bridge the gap between the veteran attack and young midfielders. Stephens, a midfielder who is just as strong defensively as offensively, will help drive the quicker tempo with her unique blend of strength, speed and agility. Dana Boyle’s move from attack also adds experience in the midfield. “We’re in a good spot,” Myers said.
“We are stronger, better and really ready to make a run at this this year.” — Laurel Pfahler
Projected Starters A Ashlee Warner (Sr.)* G: 34
A Casey Bocklet (Jr.)* G: 44
A: 21 A: 23
A Courtney Swan (Jr.)* G: 28
M Morgan Stephens (Jr.)* G:24
DC: 83 DC: 52
M Posey Valis (Fr.) G: 20
M Caroline Seats (Jr.) GB: 5
M Dana Boyle (Sr.) G: 23
CT: 18
GB: 48 (at McDonogh) DC: 3 A: 3
D Maddie Keeshan (Sr.)* GB: 21
D Maggie Preas (Fr.) GB: N/A
D Daniela Eppler (Jr.)* GB: 22
G Liz Colgan (Sr.) GAA: 8.51
* returning starters Top Returner M MORGAN STEPHENS (JR.)
The Cavaliers’ strongest and fastest middie, Stephens is a well-rounded player with a combination of skills that help set the tone for the rest of the team.
Power Ratings (SCALE OF 1-5)
4 2 3 4 OFFENSE DEFENSE GOALIE DRAW A Publication of US Lacrosse
D Sarah Gillespie (So.)* GB: 8
CT: N/A (at McDonogh) CT: 13 CT: 6
SV%: 45.8
Northwestern* Loyola
Richmond Syracuse
Penn State North Carolina
at William & Mary at Princeton
James Madison at Duke
Old Dominion American
at Notre Dame Boston College at Maryland
at Virginia Tech
Tournament Trend
1ST
RD
QUARTERS 1ST 1ST
RD RD
QUARTERS
©JOHN STROHSACKER (CB, MS, MM); ©MATT RILEY (LB); ©JOHN ZICH (TC); ©ZAC HARDY (LC)
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