Although she is just a freshman, West Virginia midfielder Bri Rodriguez knows a thing or two about postseason success.
In her career at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Ill., Rodriguez led her team to back-to-back undefeated state championship seasons.
She hopes to use that experience in Friday’s NCAA Tournament first round game in Winston-Salem, N.C., against Loyola (Md.).
Game time is set for 3 p.m.
"In high school we always used the ‘one game at a time approach,’" Rodriguez said, "That is what we want to do now and hope it works out."
WVU head coach, Nikki Izzo-Brown, will also use her past experiences to help the Mountaineers control the tournament match.
This marks the 10th straight NCAA Tournament for Izzo-Brown – she has been at WVU for 14 years.
"The excitement and youth of this team is a good thing," Izzo-Brown said. "We talk a lot about the tournament, and we don’t overlook anything, especially when we have to go away."
The youth of the Mountaineers has been prevalent all season. With as many as four freshman, getting starts throughout the regular season, the "on the job training" may eventually pay off for West Virginia.
"With a young team anything can happen," Izzo-Brown said. "Anytime you are going through an experience for the first time it’s very difficult, not having that experience may play into it.
"I’ll do my part and make sure they are prepared."
The Greyhounds come into the match with a record of 15-4-3 and are currently riding a 14-game unbeaten streak.
"It is going to be nice for us to play somebody different, to get a different look," Izzo-Brown said. "Loyola has a strong tradition of soccer success, and we know it is going to be a battle."
This will be the seventh College Cup appearance for Loyola although it is winless in all of those games.
The Greyhounds hope for better success this time around.
Freshman Nichole Schiro is the team leader in goals (9) and points (24). The forward owns a shot on goal percentage of .525.
In goal, Brittany Henderson has been a force, having a total of nine shutouts on the year, and has only allowed 15 goals over the course of 18 games started.
The Mountaineers and Greyhounds have faced each other twice in the history of both programs.
In 2002 and 2003, WVU downed Loyola with both matches occurring in the NCAA Tournament.
"It’s tournament time, and nobody will back down," Izzo-Brown said. "Both teams want that win and want to move on."
The Mountaineers will return to Spry Stadium on the campus of Wake Forest University for the second time in three years.
WVU was eliminated in the NCAA Tournament by Virginia in 2006 on the same field it will play tonight.
With history aside, the Mountaineers know what has to be done in order to extend their season to the next round.
"We just have to go in and realize every game could be our last," Rodriguez said. "Using that mentality and playing hard from the very beginning will always give us a good shot to win."
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