(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: BIG COMMITMENT: Stuart Country Day field hockey star Jackie Gaudioso-Radvany goes for the ball in action last fall. Rising senior Gaudioso-Radvany, who has committed to play on the college level for the University of North Carolina, is looking to end her Stuart career with a bang this fall. The Tartans, who have won three straight Mercer County Tournament crowns, started preseason practice this week.

Stuart’s Gaudioso-Radvany Commits to UNC, Primed to Keep Tartans on Title Track in Finale

Bill Alden

It was a recruiting pitch that Jackie Gaudioso-Radvany couldn’t resist.

At the end of her official visit to the University of North Carolina, the Stuart Country Day School field hockey star was ushered into a darkened room to watch a film.

The movie featured such North Carolina athletic luminaries as Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm beseeching her to attend the school.

After show time, Gaudioso-Radvany committed to North Carolina, which won the 2007 NCAA field hockey title with a 24-0 mark.

“UNC means university of national champions,” said Gaudioso-Radvany, who also considered James Madison, Boston College, Princeton, Duke, and Wake Forest.

“If you look at the sports teams there, so many have won national championships; it’s amazing. They also have such big rivalries with schools like Duke, Wake Forest, NC State.”

This week, the rising Stuart senior starts laying the groundwork for she hopes will be another championship season as the Tartans start preseason practice for their 2008 campaign.

Stuart has won the Mercer County Tournament in Gaudioso-Radvany’s first three seasons and was the state Prep co-champion with Lawrenceville last fall.

As she starts her final high school field hockey season, Gaudioso-Radvany acknowledges that Stuart has been a bit depleted by graduation losses.

“We are losing a lot of good players so we have some work to do,” said Gaudioso-Radvany, noting that the squad will be rebuilding its defense.

“But we have lost good players in other years and we still were able to do well. We have a couple of good freshmen coming up, it should be interesting.”

While the Tartans may be losing some talent, Gaudioso-Radvany is confident the players will develop the chemistry that has characterized the program over the years.

“We work really well as a team; we are very close,” asserted Gaudiso-Radvany. “There is no jealousy on the team; everyone has to step it up. I’m excited.”

Gaudioso-Radvany has put in a lot of work this summer preparing for her senior season, starring in the U.S. Field Hockey Futures program.

“I had a really good regional tournament, our team did really well and I scored a bunch of goals,” said Gaudiso-Radvany, referring to competition at Mercer County Community College.

“At Virginia Beach, I played well but the team didn’t do well. I had a really good tournament. Since I has already made a college commitment, I was more there to have fun. It was good to get a chance to play.”

While Gaudioso-Radvany has distinguished herself as one of the most deadly shooters ever to play in area field hockey circles, she knows she needs to diversify her game.

“I have been focusing on one-versus-one defense,” explained Gaudioso-Radvany, who was one of 50 players selected to play in the junior national camp held in early July in Virginia Beach.

“As far as inside the circle, I am solid with my scoring. I need to be better outside the circle; I need to be a more all-around player.”

Gaudioso-Radvany’s positive experience at Stuart has helped inspire her efforts to improve.

“It has been such a great ride,” maintained Gaudioso-Radvany.

“I would say that even if we hadn’t had so many wins. Stuart field hockey is always a really close team.”

As she gives her all for Stuart this fall, Gaudioso-Radvany is confident that the work she puts in will prepare her to star for her next team.

“I’m a pretty easy going person so I’m more excited than nervous,” added Gaudioso-Radvany, in reflecting on her future matriculation to UNC.

“I still have a ways to go; I know I have to work very hard this year to be ready.”

And with Gaudioso-Radvany working hard to improve her game, it should be an exciting fall for Stuart.

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