University of North Carolina Athletics
Q&A With Jenny Slingluff Levy and Kellie Thompson
April 14, 2002 | Women's Lacrosse
April 14, 2002
TarHeelBlue.com caught up with Carolina women's lacrosse coach Jenny Slingluff Levy and All-America candidate Kellie Thompson after the Tar Heels' final home game of the 2002 season, a 14-6 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Jenny Slingluff Levy has coached Carolina to a 10-2 record heading into Sunday's game against #11 James Madison. The #4 ranked Tar Heels have been ranked in the top five in every IWLCA poll during the 2002 season.
Slingluff Levy on how the 2002 season has fared compared to her preseason expectations...
"We're doing OK. The two losses have definitely stuck out in everybody's mind of ones that we didn't want against Loyola and Virginia. Those were actually good for us. We needed to get beat on things that we were not good at, and it helped us to get back together and say, 'OK, we need to get better at this.' It got our attention. Sometimes when you win all the time, you don't get better at the things you need to get better at. The early season losses have served us well. I still think this team can get better. We have a lot of talent, we have a lot of experience, and it's just a matter of everyone being on the same page. Starting with this Sunday against James Madison it will be a good test for us."
On maintaining a perfect 7-0 all-time record against Vanderbilt...
"Vanderbilt is a good team. We recruit back and forth with them each year. There are a couple of recruits that we both are looking at. I think they are a growing program, and I think they are coached well and are good kids. We just might have gotten them on a flat day, but we never underestimate them. They are feisty and good athletes and good lacrosse players. Each year we know that it's going to be a battle."
On the six seniors...
"The seniors are a great group this year. I had a kid in January, and it's been nice to have some added time commitments in my own life and be able to have a great group of seniors that work hard. They are really talented, and when your most talented players are your hardest workers, it's a really nice feeling. They've done a lot, and they've taught the underclassmen how to work hard and be achievers. They are special and we just want to keep the season going as long as we can."
On what the team needs to do for a successful postseason...
"This team needs to continue to play together. We need to continue to stay focused, and we need to play smart. If we can do those things, we match up with anybody in the country on a good day. But on a bad day, we are just as vulnerable as the next person. We need to worry about ourselves and what we need to do each game. If we do that and not have any lapses, we could have a good result."
Senior Kellie Thompson is currently second on the team in points and in 2001 set the Carolina record for most goals scored in a season (51). In March, Thompson was recognized twice as the National Player of the Week for her efforts on the field.
Thompson on how it felt to play her last game as a senior in Chapel Hill...
"Honestly, I didn't really think about it that way. We still have more than four games left in our season, so I guess I didn't think about it at all. Thinking about it, though, it's kind of sad, but it felt good to get a win and get everybody to contribute."
On how the season has progressed...
"I think that it's going how we want it to. We have ACCs next weekend, we have a big game next Sunday. We are just trying to take care of everything and come out with wins all weekend. I think that we're prepared for what we have ahead of us, and we just get better every game."
On what the team needs to do to get into the Final Four, something no current Tar Heel has accomplished...
"I think everyone needs to show up and we just need to play for a full 60 minutes. We haven't done it yet this season. We've had lots of great moments, and lots of great spans of play, but we need to put a full 60 minutes together. I think we're on our way to doing it."
