For any sports team, especially those aspiring to postseason play, each game's outcome is important. The No. 16 Virginia women's soccer team (5-2-1) certainly knows as much, having watched its national ranking plummet after losses to UCLA and West Virginia in the season's previous weeks.
Even so, the Cavaliers have responded adequately. After a 1-2-1 start, the Cavaliers have not dropped a single match since being upset by West Virginia on Sept. 13 and currently boast a four-game winning streak.
Entering tomorrow's ACC season opener against No. 24 Clemson (4-4), a winning streak is exactly the position that Virginia, striving for a Final Four appearance, ought to appreciate. Although all games are important, some -- laden with conference rivalry, watched perhaps more closely by the soccer nation and affecting Virginia's placement in the season-ending ACC Tournament -- might be just a little more important.
Virginia and Clemson share a history of tight games in which both squads enter matches with high rankings. The Tigers clearly enjoy the advantage of an 8-3 record against the Cavaliers. In their most recent meeting, a No. 15 Clemson trounced the No. 14 Cavaliers 4-0, scoring all four goals in the second half.
"We haven't had much success against them recently," Virginia Coach Steven Swanson said. "It's not going to be an easy game. They're a strong program and have been for years. Saturday is going to be what the ACC is all about. I think it's going to be a real battle."
But, he added: "Our team will be very hungry, and this is a game we're prepared for."
Prior to this past Wednesday's face-off against Temple, Swanson identified Virginia's failure to finish offensively as an aspect worthy of attention. The Cavaliers responded to Swanson's concern, thrashing the Owls in a lopsided 8-1 victory that marked the most goals scored by a Cavalier contingent since 1995. With six Virginia players notching goals and five adding assists, the extensive range of offensive contributions suggests the depth that the Cavalier squad possesses.
Clemson, meanwhile, appears to enjoy a similar status. With its top four scorers returned, the Tigers also boast the nation's 10th-ranked recruiting class.
Still, the Tigers have struggled early. Their 4-4 record finds them at the bottom of the ACC pecking order. Last Friday, Clemson dropped its match to Florida State, 4-3, in overtime. Since then, with over a week to prepare for their visit to Kl
ckner Stadium, the Tigers no doubt have assessed their weaknesses and worked to correct them.
In addition to facing a team they haven't beaten in recent memory, the Cavaliers also enter Saturday's match with several players suffering day-to-day injuries. On Wednesday night, after the Temple match, Swanson indicated his hope that freshman forward Kristin Weiss, freshman midfielder Sarah Huffman and sophomore forward Lindsey Gusick would be healed by tomorrow. All three sat out the Temple game.
"We're expecting one of the hardest games of the season," said senior forward Alyssa Benitez, who notched two goals against Temple. "We have some injuries to some important players, but I think we're ready as a team. We've been playing well. So as long as we play as a team, we will continue to do well."
In a regular season with only 18 games, each outcome can greatly affect a team's ranking, morale and confidence. Virginia appears to have addressed early problems effectively as they begin conference play tomorrow. Their recent dominance places them in a position to halt a losing streak against rival Clemson and enter ACC conference standings with a decisive 1-0 record. All wins are important. This one might be just a little bit more so.
Kickoff is at 5 p.m. today.
Read More
How Morgan Schwab has helped continue the prestige of Virginia women’s lacrosse
By Peter Kratz | 2 hours agoAs the Cavaliers approach the NCAA enactment , they will be relying on Schwab to make a run at a national title.
Connor Shellenberger and Cole Kastner selected in the PLL Draft
By Xander Tilock | YesterdayConnor Shellenberger and Cole Kastner will proudly represent the Cavaliers through continued excellence in the PLL.
No. 6 women’s tennis breezes through first two rounds of NCAA Tournament
By Grace Gould | YesterdayNo. 6 Virginia women’s tennis hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament over the weekend, competing against Long Island University and No. 41 Princeton.
