University of Virginia sophomore striker Bailey Fanikos. Photo Courtesy of Virginia Media Relations
By Joshua Kummins
The preseason for college athletes each fall is a grueling time.
This year, no player on the University of Virginia field hockey team was ready for it to end more than Lynnfield’s Bailey Fanikos.
After missing about a week and a half of practice with a partial tear in her hip flexor, Fanikos ― a sophomore striker ― was excited to get back on the field as the Cavaliers opened their season with a 4-1 win over Miami (Ohio) last Friday.
“I put a couple minutes on the board, so that really felt good for me,” Fanikos said. “(The preseason) was a little bit rough, just trying to get healthy and back in shape again and focus on hockey at the same time. … Now, I feel back to myself. (Friday was) a really good day, to say the least.”
Sunday produced a tougher result in the form of a 3-0 loss at No. 18 Penn State. Still, Fanikos is happy to be able to make contributions on the field again.
Virginia has an eight-member freshman class this fall, so Fanikos took it upon herself to help bring in the team’s newcomers in the same fashion veterans helped her.
“I think I kind of found a new role for myself being injured and having eight incoming freshmen not knowing what they’re getting into. I think I was a little bit of a mediator for them,” Fanikos said. “I saw myself in a leadership role, so I kind of adapted to that and still tried to keep everybody positive and myself positive.”
UVA’s 11th-year head coach Michele Madison noticed that same attitude.
“She’s enthusiastic and has contributed to the team in great ways,” said Madison, a 2013 inductee to the National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association (NFHCA) Hall of Fame. “She loves Virginia and shares that feeling of great energy and love for the program. She definitely took all eight of them under her wing and she’s always checking in on them.”
Fanikos scored just one goal last season, but played in 14 of the Cavaliers’ 21 games.
Now a sophomore, Fanikos has noticed definite improvements and an overall comfort in her game. But, simply learning by doing has been crucial to her development.
“Just being more confident on the ball and being able to provide for my team in any way that I can,” Fanikos said, citing her improvements for the new season. “And, really just knowing the game a lot better.”
Only experience would put Fanikos at ease in developing that knowledge of the game.
Now back to health, she feels comfortable and confident.
“I think that’s a big thing coming into college ― it’s a lot more tactical and there’s a lot more technique,” she said. “Developing a ‘hockey IQ’ was a big thing for me, and now I finally feel comfortable on the field.”
While she experienced big games right away as a freshman, perhaps no game in her career will be more exciting than UVA’s Sept. 23 trip to Boston College.
There is lots of season before then, but Fanikos is already looking forward to the “huge” opportunity.
“I’ve been in contact with (Lynnfield head coach) Mamie Reardon,” Fanikos said. “She’s going to get the whole team to come, so it will be awesome to see those girls and prove that hard work pays off. … It’s huge that we’re going to Boston this year.”
Expectations are high in Charlottesville as the Hoos started the season ranked fifth in the nation, according to the NFHCA. The Cavaliers finished 15-6 last year, but fell to Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Fanikos knows that leadership is the start to backing up the preseason accolades and maintaining a strong, winning program, citing her days at Lynnfield High School as an example.
“In high school, when I was the only freshman on varsity, it was definitely a culture shock for me,” Fanikos said. “I felt the need to step in and help everybody out. I think that’s the start to a strong team.”
Madison has noticed her improved shot and the confidence Fanikos herself spoke of, especially following her recovery from injury. But, it’s her leadership that never goes unnoticed.
“She’s a coach’s dream in that way,” Madison said. “She buys in, and will do whatever she can to make Virginia the best.”
Joshua Kummins can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.