University of Richmond Athletics
Former All-American Meridith Thorpe Joins Field Hockey Coaching Staff
04/12/2007 | Field Hockey
April 12, 2007
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Former University of Virginia All-American Meridith Thorpe has joined head coach Gina Lucido as an assistant coach.
Thorpe served six years as Virginia's assistant field hockey coach, helping the Cavaliers remain as permanent residents among the nation's top-20 programs. Prior to her return to Virginia, she served as an assistant at Ohio State from 1999-2001. In Thorpe's two years in Columbus, the Buckeyes were ranked in the top 20 the entire time and reached the semifinals of the Big Ten Championships both years.
"Meridith Thorpe is directly linked to the positive growth and maturity of this young Richmond team," Lucido said. "The immediate connection with Meridith in our team chemistry speaks volumes about her character and experience. We are so fortunate to have Meridith's expertise and genuine collaroration working towards the futre goals of Richmond's national prominence."
Thorpe had a stellar career at Virginia and was named to the USA Senior Women's team in 1996, the first Cavalier to reach this plateau. She was a member of the Champions' Trophy team and was a co-captain of the United States Under-21 Junior Pan Am team. A three-time Olympic Festival participant, Thorpe is still the Cavalier and Atlantic Coast Conference's leading scorer with 230 career points. She is the only person in conference history to record 100 career goals and finished her career at Virginia ranked seventh all-time in scoring at the Division I level.
Thorpe was the first person in Virginia history to be named to the NFHCA All-American first team when she was so honored in 1995. A four-time All-American, Thorpe was on the NFHCA All-American first team for three years and was a second-team selection in her fourth year. She is one of only two Cavaliers to be named an All-American four times.
The 1995 ACC Rookie of the Year, Thorpe was a member of the All-ACC team in each of her four years, one of only three people in conference history to record this honor. In 1996 she led the conference in scoring. Thorpe still holds four of the top eight single season scoring marks at Virginia and ranks second in game-winning goals (26) and games played (89) in Cavalier career history. Her 52 points as a first year and 70 points as a second year still stand as Virginia records.
Thorpe was the head coach of the USFHA Futures site in Columbus and she has also served as a selector for the Regional Tournament.
The 1999 Virginia grad is married to Randy Bungard, the director of the track and field/cross country programs at the University of Virginia. The couple resides in Charlottesville.