The Virginia women's soccer team looks to extend its winning streak to eight games and hand top-ranked North Carolina its first loss this season in a 7 p.m. matchup tonight at Klockner Stadium.
"It's the biggest game of the year," Virginia freshman forward Lindsay Gusick said. "We're going to have to come out hard from the beginning and take it to them."
The Tar Heels (13-0, 5-0 ACC) gave coach Anson Dorrance his 500th win as Carolina's head coach on Oct. 18 with a 3-0 win over Clemson. Dorrance is the third NCAA Division I coach to reach the 500-win milestone exclusively as a men's or women's soccer coach. The No. 13 Cavaliers (11-2-1, 3-1) hope they will not give Dorrance his 501st win as they return home after a successful road trip. Virginia defeated James Madison, 4-1, on Oct. 13, and Richmond, 3-0, on Oct. 17, before taking out Duke, 2-1, in a key conference matchup Saturday.
Virginia coach Steve Swanson said he was satisfied with how the Cavaliers competed against the hungry Blue Devils.
"The way we played in the second half and the overtime was pleasing to me," he said. "I thought we really took the game to Duke which is a good sign."
Virginia's seven-game winning streak has not gone unnoticed. Along the way, many players have received individual accolades.
For her play against Richmond and Duke, Gusick was named ACC player of the week. Gusick leads Virginia and the ACC in goals with 10, all coming in the last nine games. She netted two goals in Virginia's win over Richmond and scored the game-winner in overtime against Duke. Virginia also claimed ACC player of the week honors the previous week as senior midfielder Laura Gaworecki became the first Virginia women's soccer player this year to earn the honor. In addition, senior co-captain and reigning ACC player of the year Lori Lindsey was named last week as a finalist for the Hermann Award. The award is given annually to the nation's top player.
However, coach Swanson was quick to point out that Virginia's success does not lie solely with the performance of a few players.
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"All the players in general have contributed throughout the year," he said. "When you get individual awards it's a result of the team doing well, and in order for the team to do well we need contributions from everyone. Our biggest concern now is pushing forward and achieving our goals as a team."
Virginia will have a great opportunity to push forward tonight when it takes on the reigning national champions.
"At this stage it will give us a good barometer for where we are," Swanson said. "Right now they're the top team in the country and they play a style that tests you. It's not just a matter of stopping them; you have to find ways to score as well. Your team is going to be put to the test every time you play North Carolina."
Virginia hopes to score well on its test tomorrow night and end the Tar Heels' bid for an unbeaten season.
"We're excited about the challenge," Swanson said. "I think it should be a great game."
"I felt we played well on the road," Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. Duke "is trying to get into the NCAA tournament right now so that game was big for them. They were as ready as they would ever be"
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