The No. 1 Virginia women’s soccer team has been dominant for much of this season, leading the nation in scoring offense, assists and total points. But in last weekend’s ACC tournament quarterfinals match against Maryland, the Cavaliers found themselves having relinquished total control after ceding a fifth-minute goal.
The top-seeded Cavaliers quickly rebounded with a goal in the 28th minute and never looked back, ultimately toppling the Terrapins 6-1. Still, the early scare functioned as a valuable caution against complacency heading into Friday’s semifinal matchup against fourth-seeded No. 6 Virginia Tech.
“We’re feeling pretty good, but we also know that we can get better,” senior defender Shasta Fisher said. “We can’t have the attitude that we’re the best because we can always improve.”
Virginia (20-0-0, 14-0-0 ACC), a team which has thrived on using its experience to exploit opponents, will be able to draw on its recent history for Friday’s matchup, as the Hokies (15-3-2, 9-3-1 ACC) fell to the Cavaliers 2-0 just last week.
“I think it will be helpful because they are fresh in our mind,” senior midfielder Kate Norbo said. “We know we’re going to get a good Virginia Tech team, but I think we’re ready for it. They’re a physical team and are good in the air and on set plays, so we’re working on those things because we know that’s where they are most dangerous.”
The Cavaliers will again have to cope with the potent Virginia Tech attack headlined by senior forward Jazmine Reeves, sophomore midfielder Ashley Meier and freshman forward Murielle Tiernan. This three-headed monster has tallied 24 goals total thus far this season, spearheading the second-highest scoring offense in the ACC.
“They have some personnel that make it very difficult, especially up top,” Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. “We’ll have to be able to adjust to what the game dictates, and I think we’ve been in enough situations to where we will be able to do that.”
An oft unmentioned — though significant — challenge for Virginia is the change in schedule for postseason play. Instead of the usual routine of playing Thursday and Sunday games, the Cavaliers, if they win, will face a Friday-Sunday turnaround between the semifinal and the championship games.
“[The Friday-Sunday format] is the way the NCAA tournament is geared, so this is a nice segue back into what it will be,” Swanson said.
The Cavaliers can rely on a strong core of nine seniors to help lead the team as they ready themselves for what could be a hectic postseason schedule.
“This isn’t something these guys aren’t used to because we’ve done it the past couple of years,” Swanson said.
The semifinal matchup will take place at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. and will be shown on ESPN3 at 5:30 p.m. The victor will face the winner of the North Carolina-Florida State semifinal in Sunday’s championship match.
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