BOCA RATON, Florida — There’s a general consensus in women’s DI college soccer that Morgan Brian is the best player in the nation.

But for all her tremendous ability and national team pedigree, Brian might not even be the most important midfielder on her Virginia side this season.

That distinction could arguably go to fellow senior Danielle Colaprico.

“She has a huge role on this team,” Brian said of her teammate. “She plays a lot of different positions and for us that is really good for her to be so versatile. Last week [against UCLA], she played the mid position and that is exactly what we need her to do, play the role given, just like everyone on this team. For her, she is very good on the ball. She calms the team down.”

Head coach Steve Swanson was just as glowing in his assessment of his other senior superstar.

“I think special players are able to [play multiple positions],” he said. “They are able to recognize what the team needs and what their role is. I feel bad at times because it is hard on Danielle. People don’t realize how hard it is to change positions because there are little nuances about the game like how you need to position yourself, how you need to be.”

Just how many different positions has Colaprico played this year? According to Virginia’s lineup graphics from the season, in UVA’s 25 games, Colaprico has started nine times in the holding role, eight in the attacking midfield role (with Brian away on national team duty), five times from the left and three times on the right.

In Friday night’s test against Texas A&M, Colaprico did what she does best with the ball at her feet. Playing the role of a deep-lying distributor, she was calm and composed in possession, switching the point of attack at the right times, and winning balls in the middle of the park. She battled against Aggie attackers that had several inches on her.

With the Aggies aiming long balls towards 6-foot center forward Annie Kunz throughout the night, Colaprico found herself in a handful of aerial duels – some of which she won.

“It is definitely sometimes difficult going against taller girls and trying to win headers, but I learned that it comes down to timing it right in the air,” Colaprico said. “It is not always about who is taller but timing the ball in the air and whoever times it right is going to win the header so that is kind of how I go at it.”

Not only did Colaprico have to grapple with the physical aspect of Friday’s game, the tactical matchup between A&M and the Cavaliers left them with a 2-v-3 mismatch in central midfield. Swanson was impressed with how the New Jersey native handled that element of the win, as she hung back and stayed disciplined in her role.

“Particularly in this game, because they had three in the midfield to our two centrally so it is difficult, but Danielle I think has all the tools to handle any situation,” he said. “She has great skills. She is a competitor. She defends really well. She can handle the ball with both feet.

“I think for young players I would certainly watch all these players and what they can do in their role because I think their skill has really helped them and Danielle in that position. There were times I thought it was open for her to go, and I am trying to push her, but again it’s tough because you’re trying to hold things down. She certainly has the capability to get forward.”

Watching Brian and Colaprico play one-two combinations, passing and probing in the middle of the park, made it easier to understand how Virginia is able to play such an aesthetically pleasing brand of soccer. She also takes all of her team’s corner kicks, and has 19 assists on the season along with six goals.

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And what better praise for Colaprico’s game than the affirmation of her college teammate who happens to also feature on the full U.S. Women’s National Team.

“I love playing with her,” Brian said. “I think that we play really well together. For her going forward, just keep doing what she is doing – contributing to the attack, assisting the ball, getting players in the right position, and be smart.”

One final exam is left on the field for the Academic and NSCAA All American. It’ll be a doozy on Sunday against Florida State(w). But as she’s shown all season, Colaprico will be ready to willing to play literally anywhere on the field she can help the team.

Image credit: Matt Riley, UVA Athletics