This season the Virginia women's soccer team looks to improve on a very successful 2000 campaign. Last season the Cavaliers finished 11-8-1 overall, 4-3-0 in the ACC and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament before falling 2-1 to North Carolina, the eventual champions.
The Cavaliers also notched their first ever ACC player of the year accolades last year for women's soccer when midfielder Lori Lindsey was awarded the honors. Lindsey, a senior co-captain, led Virginia in scoring in 2000 with nine goals and three assists. She also was invited to participate with the Under-21 United States National Team last February.
Lindsey will continue to lead a strong 2001 Virginia squad that features a strong recruiting class and the graduation of just two starters. The Cavaliers are ranked No. 9 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, and the ACC preseason coaches poll predicts them to finish No. 2 in the ACC behind UNC.
"This means that people are going to be prepared that much more for us," coach Steve Swanson said. "We have to have a very focused mindset going into every game. We're just trying to become the best team that we possibly can.
"Our potential is unlimited. We feel very confident about the players that are returning and we also have some great young players coming in that will give us a lot of depth and be factors for us."
In fact, the newest members have been described as one of the finest recruiting classes in the history of the Virginia program. Five of the seven incoming freshmen were NSCAA All-American selections.
The recruiting class will add great depth to the program but more importantly will give a great versatility to the Cavalier squad.
"The added depth is incredible," Lindsey, a co-captain, said. "We've been able to speed up our practice sessions a lot more and get in a lot of stuff we wouldn't normally have."
"I am really excited," senior co-captain Tammy Westinghouse added. "This is the best team, talent wise, that we have had in the five years I've been here."
Westinghouse was a medical red shirt last season after a torn ACL in her knee caused her to be out of action all season.
"It was hard to lose her when we did," Swanson said. "It's great to have her back. It's a very difficult rehab to come back from. She's a big part of our team. Her experience is very valuable. She knows how to play in the ACC and the NCAAs. It's nice for our younger players to draw on that kind of experience from Tammy."
"Its like having your rock back there," Lindsey said of Westinghouse's return. "With her experience we can really depend on her."
The Cavaliers just returned from Michigan, where they won two exhibition games. They downed Oakland, 7-1, last Wednesday, and defeated Michigan, 3-2, on Friday.
The exhibition games not only allowed the Cavaliers to practice their game on the field, but it also allowed the team to mesh off the field.
"The nice thing about going away is that you spend a lot of time together," Swanson said. "Us riding the buses together, sleeping together and eating together was a great way for us to build up our chemistry and blend the newcomers into the squad."
The Cavaliers open their regular season this Saturday at Klockner Stadium against Mississippi at 1 pm. The matchup will be the first time the two schools have ever met.
"Any first game is difficult because we haven't been able to see what they can do," Swanson said. "It's definitely a great opportunity for them to knock somebody off. We're just really excited to start the season. This game is a great chance for us to get things in motion"
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