Q&A with Dani Pycroft

Q: What's your fifth year like?

A: It's a totally different dynamic mixing with older people in my grad classes, people who have kids, from like age 24, 25 ... to like 40.

Q: Last year the team finished the season ranked 19th in the country. Are you still in the building phase, or is the program built?

A: I'd say we're still in the building phase. It's easy to win a championship one year, but to do it repeatedly is different. I don't know if you've looked at the stats, but we're not picked to win the A-10 this year. They say we should come in second ... supposedly.

Q:Anything special going on in training this year?

A: Brian Elliot is now our full-time assistant coach. Last year he was a secondary assistant. We also have a goalie coach. Our coaches can now focus on our field players and don't have to worry so much about the goalie.

Q: The program is on a national level, what now?

A: My goal is to make it to the second round of the NCAAs. Last year we lost in the first round. Obviously we've got to get the small things before we can focus on any of that.

Q: What would you like to tell Richmond students about UR field hockey?

A: It's so much better playing in front of a crowd than just in front of your team. That was one of the things that helped us out in the UVA game last season. A lot of spectators came out. They were ranked No. 2 in the country when we played them early in the season at home. We lost 4-3, but a few more minutes and we could have beat them.

Contact staff writer Zak Kozuchowski at zak.kozuchowski@richmond.edu