After an impressive performance in this weekend’s Virginia Nike Soccer Classic, the second-ranked Virginia Cavaliers women’s soccer team is now 7-0 to start off the year for just the fourth time in team history. In each of the team’s first seven games, Virginia has been dominant, outscoring opponents by an average of 2.8 goals per game, and now rank in the top 15 in both scoring offense and defense.
Wednesday, the Cavaliers (7-0) will play their final nonconference matchup before ACC play begins, against fellow Virginia foe Old Dominion (1-3-2) as they look to extend its program record 27-game non-conference winning streak. While Virginia has enjoyed plenty of early-season success, and has dominated more difficult opponents than the Monarchs with ease, this midweek matchup could prove challenging for a Cavaliers team that is in the midst of playing three games in six days.
“It’s a little weird that we have a game on Wednesday,” junior forward Makenzy Doniak said, “I don’t think we’ve ever had that, so it will be interesting. We’ll regenerate and get in the cold tub to be able get our bodies back, and then be ready for Wednesday. We’ll be fine, for sure.”
As challenging as this three-game, six-day stretch is, Virginia’s challenges are further exacerbated by the fact that it will once again play without senior midfielder Morgan Brian, who is currently with the US Women’s National Team and will be playing against Mexico in a friendly on Thursday.
In Brian’s absence, Virginia has turned to senior forward Danielle Colaprico, who was named to the preseason MAC Herrmann trophy watch list, to man the middle of the field and control play for the Cavaliers. Colaprico, usually a holding defensive midfielder, thrived in her new attacking position, tallying two goals and an assist en route to tournament MVP honors this weekend.
“I’m putting 100% effort every time,” Colaprico said, “I’m going to try my best at whatever spot he [coach Steve Swanson] puts me in and whatever he gives me I’m going to do. I try to make my teammates around me look better and I think that I try and help people on the field by communicating.”
Additionally, while teams often talk about their play as a ‘work in progress,’ the Cavaliers truly feel as if they are nowhere close to their ceiling.
“Moving forward there are a lot of things that we’ve got to continue to improve on because conference is going to come up very quickly,” Swanson said, “I’m confident in the players and I think they’ve got a good mindset and they’re not satisfied.”
Looking at the opponent, the Monarchs could be an interesting challenge for a Cavaliers team that likes to get out and score early on to set the tone. In six games thus far, Old Dominion has yet to allow a first half goal. While they have struggled in the second half and overtime, getting outscored 7-1, the Cavaliers, as a home favorite, never want to allow an opponent to hang around and potentially shift the game’s momentum.
Virginia struggled with this in both games this weekend, as Tennessee jumped out in front in the ninth minute while Hofstra tied up the game and swung play in the 53rd minute on Sunday.
“I thought Friday had breakdowns on set plays,” Swanson said, “and I thought we weren’t as good defensively and offensively [on Sunday] so I think it’s just trying to get those three things more consistent and this gives us a good opportunity against Old Dominion.”
Old Dominion allows just 1.17 goals per game, and their leading goal scorer, senior forward Jessie Klamut ranks seventh in Conference-USA in goals scored per game. This potent offense could hurt a Virginia squad that has now allowed three goals in its last three games after not allowing any in the first four.
Kickoff for this intra-Virginia battle is at 7 PM at Klöckner stadium.
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