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With the scrimmage tonight against James Madison, what are you looking forward to most about getting on the field with an outside opponent?

Adair: “I think our team is looking forward to playing against someone new. We have played against each other and have beaten each other up for about a week or so in practice, so it’s a good opportunity for us to go against an opposing team like JMU. They are a strong opponent and will be a physical test for us and I am looking forward to seeing how we handle them and where we are at with our training at the moment.”

James Madison can be a tough opponent, how have you prepared the team?

Adair: “I think JMU will be a team that’s going to be in the mix as far as for the NCAA Tournament at the end of the year. They are a strong team and are very well coached. They are going to come out well organized and very physical. And so for us, it will be a test to see if we can match their physicality and match their energy. This game usually has energy, whether if it’s a friendly scrimmage or a real contest. Our kids need to make sure they come out and match JMU’s energy and simply just play our game.”

Seven freshmen are a lot compared to years past, how are they coming along throughout preseason?

Adair: “They are coming along really well. Tonight will be a test for them. They are trying to earn spots, acclimate to the college level and to the demands that are asked of them. This match is going to be a little bit more competitive than most of their club matches that they have experienced and its going to be a jump for them to try to match that competitive nature and intensity. We are going to be looking at them to make that transition by playing everybody a little bit tonight to give them plenty of opportunities.”

Your top goalkeeper, Dayle Colpitts, just left for Japan to compete in the World Cup, how has the team adjusted in her absence?

Adair: “I think the team has done very well adjusting. Dayle ended up missing six or seven matches last year due to injury so the team has done well. It will be a test for us, but Caroline Kelly and Kimberley Anderson will both split time and get more minutes because of her absence. So it will be nice to get to evaluate them and hopefully they will step right in and we won’t miss a beat.”

As a coach, what do you have to do when you lose a top returner like Colpitts?

Adair: “I think you just have to prepare like you would normally. Every member of this team is important and I think we have a lot of depth. So you just need to focus on what you have here, like, who is healthy and who is not. In addition to Dayle, we will be without a few starters tonight. Jazmine Reeves, Amanda Gerhard and Ashley Meier will not play due to injuries so it just creates more opportunities for others. We are excited to have a scrimmage like this so that the younger kids will have the opportunity to come out and prove themselves.”

Looking forward to next weekend, what are you excited for the most about hosting a home tournament for your season opener?

Adair: “I think it is a great opportunity for us to play at home and get in good quality games. For instance, last night UNC Wilmington beat North Carolina in a scrimmage, which is a great result for them. So they will be a tough team that is gaining confidence from that win right now. Richmond is a good in-state rivalry and they have grown since we have played them last so they will be a tough team right off the bat as well. So we are excited and looking forward to getting the season started.”

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