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Cavaliers kick off in Oregon

Don't talk to April Heinrichs about rankings. Don't tell her that in less than three days her team will be facing one of the top rated teams in the country. She's not interested. And though the No. 3 Portland Pilots will be one of the toughest challenges the Virginia women's soccer team will face this season, their coach isn't even considering it.

Not yet, anyway. "First we have to get past Oregon State," Heinrichs said. "It's very dangerous to look too far ahead. We have to take the entire season one game at a time."

The Cavs will face the unranked Beavers in their first game of the season today at 5 p.m. in Corvallis, Ore. Then they travel to Portland Sunday for a 2 p.m. contest with the Pilots.

The Beavers (1-1) return 14 players, and they boast a high-powered offensive lineup including standout forwards Sunny Miller, BreeAnna Jolin and Dante Lipfert.

Portland is currently in the midst of a rebuilding season, but can lay claim to one of the best recruiting classes in the country. The key is how quickly the Portland newcomers can adjust. Pilot coach Clive Charles is optimistic.

"I think they are adjusting fairly well," Charles said. "It might be a few more weeks before they can settle completely into the new environment."

Virginia is entering this season with much the same team as last year, returning a total of 22 players, including nine starters. They tallied an impressive 8-0 victory last Saturday in a scrimmage against VCU, and are looking to shut down both Oregon teams.

A big question for the Cavaliers is their starting line up. So many returnees means fierce competition for starting slots. Heinrichs said most positions are still up in the air.

"Honestly we won't know the definite starting line-up for another four or five games," she said. "We plan to use the same squad we started in our last scrimmage with a few changes."

One major change comes as the result of an injury during practice. Second-year midfielder Laura Gaworecki stepped out of practice twice this week due to knee problems and is listed as tentative going into the weekend. Her starting position will be filled by first-year Kelly Wordon.

Another switch will occur in the goal box, as junior keeper Julie Harris will replace second-year standout Ashley Meeker. Though Meeker is rated as the fittest member of the team, Heinrichs said when it comes to the starting line-up, how you perform on the field is what matters most.

"Ashley is very competitive and is in the best physical condition," she said. "But Harris has asserted herself more on the field and her overall performance has earned her the starting spot."

Senior keeper Megan Boehm has yet to pass her pre-season fitness test, and she will not be traveling with the team this weekend.

Also staying home this weekend is senior midfielder Lindsay Ritter, who sat out last year because of injury. Ritter is expected to join the team in about two weeks.

Henrichs said focusing on more physical play this spring has helped prepare the Cavs for tough teams like Portland.

"We did a lot of combative activities this week and in the spring," she said. "The players were out on the field battling each other and really scraping and clawing for each play. I think that will prove to be a strong advantage for us throughout the season"

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