The tragic loss of a teammate, the end of a season and school year marked by sadness, heading home with heavy hearts … the healing process will continue into the 2011 season for the Virginia women’s lacrosse team, but the outlook is bright. The program is going to retire No. 1 prior to the first home game on March 6 in a tribute to senior Yeardley Love, allowing the players and coaches to move forward while still remembering what has passed. This year, the Cavaliers’ season will be marked by their play on the field rather than unspoken words and feelings off the pitch.

Sitting down with coach Julie Myers before the Hoos’ opening game against No. 12 Loyola this Saturday, the conversation is all lacrosse. Myers is optimistic about the Cavaliers’ prospects this season and is ready for her team to take the field. Despite some questions about youth and inexperience (there are 11 freshmen on the roster this season), the coach is confident about what her team is capable of doing.

“I think right now we feel solidified, we just need to get our games going and get better with every game. Certainly some things can change. If it’s not right, we need to look at some things and some different people, potentially,” she said. “We’ll certainly have some stretches where we’ll be taking some lumps but I think we’ll also be pretty dynamic and exciting to watch.”

This year’s Cavalier squad is something of an “experience sandwich” – a fresh, young midfield is bookended by a stellar defense and a seasoned attack. Up front, a core of experienced players will provide stability on offense while the younger players find their feet. Juniors Josie Owen, Ainsley Baker, Charlie Finnegan, and Julie Gardner all bring different skill sets and abilities to the attack, which will keep opponents on their toes and control the flow of the game, giving the younger players time to adjust.

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