Gaudioso Radvany ends record career
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
The bar was already high for Jackie Gaudioso Radvany.
Then the Stuart Country Day forward committed to continue her field hockey career at 2007 NCAA champion North Carolina. It raised the stakes for her senior year just a little bit more.
”For Stuart field hockey, I knew this year would be all about fun and trying to win those championships,” Gaudioso Radvany said. “It definitely took some weight off my shoulders to decide, but going to be a Tar Heel next year, the whole thing is always on my shoulders. I have to work hard.”
Gaudioso Radvany had to work a bit harder this year for the Tartans, who suffered significant graduation losses. With wholesale defensive losses, Stuart committed more players to shoring up that end and played just three forwards. That allowed opposing defenses to mark Gaudioso Radvany even more tightly.
”It was good for her to see that kind of pressure and receive that attention because that’s what it’s going to be like at the college level,” said Stuart head coach Katie Grant. “I think it’s good for her to work on receiving under that pressure and making plays even when you’re under pressure constantly. She definitely saw more of it this year, especially in the postseason.”
Despite receiving more attention, Gaudioso Radvany continued to deliver for the Tartans. She remained as efficient as ever. She equaled her school single-season record 30 goals that she established last year and added 15 assists.
”After you have such a successful season, it is hard to follow that up,” Grant said. “I think she did a really great job of being consistent, which is tough at that level. After having a season like she did last year, the other teams were that much more aware of her.”
It didn’t make her any easier to stop, and her scoring helped the Tartans put together another strong season. Stuart finished 18-6 overall and won the Patriot Conference title. Stuart reached the state Prep A semifinals before losing to Peddie, whom they had handed their first loss of the season earlier in the year. Stuart also reached the Mercer County Tournament final for a fourth straight season, thanks in part to a special goal for Gaudioso Radvany. Stuart’s 1-0 semifinal win came courtesy of her 100th career goal. She will graduate as the leading scorer in Mercer County history.
Jackie Gaudioso Radvany is the Princeton Packet Field Hockey Player of the Year.
”She’s continued to help what was a strong program before stay strong and get stronger,” Grant said. “I think that’s something the girls following her can use to help maintain the program.”
Her name will live on in the record books as she takes the next step in her career by playing collegiately. She is going to a UNC team that has won five national titles and was represented by six of the 16 players on the US Olympic team in 2008. She will join the Tar Heels as a rare 100-goal scorer and the second-leading active career scorer nationally.
”When I see that, I don’t believe that,” Gaudioso Radvany said. “I look twice at it. I’ve worked hard for four years. God gave me a gift and I have to thank my family because I know they made me that person, along with Coach Grant, Coach (Missy) Bruvik and Coach (Kaley) Bell.
”Those numbers were driven by myself, but they were also driven by other people. They really helped me get there.”
Gaudioso Radvany has starred not just in high school but internationally with the United States Field Hockey Futures program. More than all her goals — so many that she calls them a “blob of numbers” when she talks of trying to recall them — her example of dedication to the sport will live on for future Tartans.
”Jackie has been a big influence in that sense,” Grant said. “Before this time, a lot of girls didn’t do the US route or do that kind of stuff. She introduced them to another side of field hockey which kind of creates more opportunities.
”They’re seeing the opportunities that she’s had. They understand they might not be at the level she is, but she’s a good example for them. She gives them an idea what more is out there besides just high school field hockey.”
Gaudioso Radvany, though valued playing for the Tartans as much as any outside experience.
”Stuart field hockey is over for me, and that’s sad,” she said. “It’s really sad. I’m going to treasure the team and the people here, the girls I got to work with over the four years. It was a fun team.”
Gaudioso Radvany always helped make it so. She was known almost as much for being a character that could lighten any practice for the Tartans as she was an offensive highlight machine.
Even after reaching a high level, she hasn’t stopped working to perfect her skills. This year, she focused on improving her initial hits and corner hits as well as becoming a stronger defensive player.
”You have to give her a ton of credit on an individual level for getting that good,” Grant said, “and for taking it upon herself to become that great of a player for this team.”
The Tartans will miss Gaudioso Radvany’s personality, scoring and leadership, but they have that example of how to get there. They have seen how much she put into the sport and how much she’s gotten out of it.
”I wouldn’t have asked for a better career,” Gaudioso Radvany said. “I have no regrets. I’m a little disappointed the way everything turned out, but I’m the kind of person that can shrug it off her shoulders and move on. I could not have asked for a better four years with better people.”