This Week in Cavalier Sports History
Welcome to a new column brought to you by the Fanatic. Each week we will take a look at some of the noteworthy contests that have taken place for the University of Virginia athletic programs. While fall for most Virginia fans means trekking to Scott Stadium in their orange and blue, our first installment gives some love to another sport. Since we are in the South, I think it’s my gentlemanly duty to let the ladies go first.
Photo by UVA Athletics
September 17, 2006-Michele Madison is no stranger to success. After four strong seasons as the leader of Temple University she single-handedly helped turn Michigan State from Big Ten punching bag into an elite field hockey team. For four straight years she took her Spartans to the Elite Eight or farther in the NCAA tournament and took home two Big Ten titles. That is why many had to consider it a gamble for her to accept the offer from Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage to coach the Cavaliers and leave behind the legacy she had created.
Virginia may have a motto of uncompromised excellence, but it was certainly not applicable to their field hockey team. The Cavaliers had not reached the NCAA postseason since 2001. Virginia was riding a six-game losing streak entering Madison’s first year at the helm where the Cavaliers had been outscored 16-3. Madison, however, was quick to change the attitude of the players around her. With a mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers that Madison had brought with her from Michigan State, the Cavaliers quickly turned things around winning five of their first six games. It became clear that Coach Madison was not going to accept anything less than perfection from her players and that is exactly what they would need on September 17th, 2006.The North Carolina Tar Heels entered the day with the No. 4 ranking in the land and a dynamic offense. After outscoring their offense 24-4 in the first six games, senior Brooke Miller had proven herself to be an elite player for the Tar Heels. Virginia, despite being 6-1, had failed to defeat a top-notch program. Against then No. 4 Old Dominion just one week earlier Virginia fell 3-2. The Cavaliers trailed 3-0 at half and had shown great perseverance in fighting back. However, it would take more than grit for Virginia to defeat North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The day before UNC had also lost to ODU so the Tar Heels were desperate for a victory in front of the home crowd.Virginia surprised people early with a goal in the third minute of the game. Biffy Cornelison corralled the ball after a deflection on a short corner and knocked it in to give Virginia the lead. North Carolina, however, was far from rattled. Less than four minutes later, Lucy Myers converted on a second straight short corner to tie the game after a Virginia penalty gave the Tar Heels another chance.
The match seemed destined to be tied at the half until Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn was able to pull her away around the Tar Heel goalie to make an improbable shot with only 14 seconds remaining in the first half. Of the 14 goals Sijpestijn scored that season, it was that one which will go down as the goal that changed the trajectory of the program.
The second half was a nail-biter but Virginia continued to play strong defense. The Cavaliers had ample opportunity to extend their lead but failed to convert, including a shot by Lindsay O’Bannon that hit the post. This would provide for a thrilling final five minutes as North Carolina got three short corner opportunities. The final one was saved by goalie Katherine Blair and Virginia left Chapel Hill with a victory that would define their season.
The 2-1 win meant much more than just another victory to Virginia’s already illustrious record. The Cavalier victory was the first for Virginia against an ACC opponent since October 13th, 2001 (also against UNC). It also gave the Cavaliers the quality win they so desperately needed and propelled them in the top 10 where they would stay for the rest of the season. Virginia would finish the season 14-8, but stumbled against the rest of the ACC competition. With every conference opponent ranked in the top 10, UNC would be the only ACC win the Cavaliers would capture that season. However, it was still enough to impress the selection committee Virginia would reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001. Once there, Virginia proved that it belonged there by pulling an impressive 1-0 victory over Iowa to reach the Elite Eight. A narrow 3-2 loss to Wake Forest is all that separated the Cavaliers from the National Semifinals.
A season of tremendous growth started with that one win in Chapel Hill. Without the win, Virginia likely would have missed the playoffs. A senior class would have left Charlottesville without any postseason experience at all. Instead, Virginia became one of the stories of the year and Coach Madison was named the Field Hockey Coach of the Year. As the field hockey teams continues to play well this season, they can look back and thank their lucky stars for September 17th, 2006.
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