Even though Virginia Tech is the biggest foe for most Virginia athletic teams, the women's soccer team has yet to build a storied rivalry with the Hokies. Virginia Tech women's soccer is competing in its inaugural ACC season, facing the Cavs for the first time since 1996 -- a game which the Cavaliers won 1-0. Despite the long drought, however, Virginia coach Steve Swanson and the rest of the Cavaliers are looking forward to defending their 10-3-1 (5-1-0) record in Blacksburg tonight.
"We're very excited about it," Swanson said. "We know it's not going to be easy down there. I think it's going to be obviously a very intense, emotional game, but our players have battled."
Swanson has traditionally prepared the Cavaliers well for in-state games. Swanson's teams have gone 26-1-2 against other schools in Virginia during his six years at U.Va. Over the last two seasons, the Cavaliers have won nine straight in-state games, outscoring their opponents 42-0 in that span. Tonight's game marks the final in-state game of the regular season for Virginia.
"That's always very important for us," Swanson said. "We take a lot of pride in playing Virginia schools. We get very excited for these games, and whether it's JMU, whether it's Richmond, William and Mary, or Virginia Tech, we take them very seriously."
Recently, Virginia has been playing well against all schools, not just against those in-state. The Cavaliers have won seven of their last eight, suffering their only loss in that span against No. 1 North Carolina in double overtime, 2-1.
The Hokies, however, have not experienced the same success that the Cavaliers have. Virginia Tech has won just one game in its last seven -- a losing drought that began Sept. 18. The Cavs, however, are aware of the dangers of overlooking a lesser-experienced Hokie squad.
"We're going to their place so they're going to have a crowd," senior midfielder Noelle Keselica said. "They're going to be excited for the game, so we just have to match them in intensity."
Keselica, who has tallied 11 goals and 20 assists in her three-year career at U.Va., expects that the team will be able to continue their success despite playing in a new atmosphere.
"It's always tough going away, but I think it's just like going away anywhere else," Keselica said with regard to Blacksburg. "We've been to some tough places. So I think we're ready for anything that comes our way. We just have to be on top of our game."
Swanson, Keselica and the rest of the Cavaliers seem to be ready to start another intrastate rivalry with a win. Such a result would keep the Cavaliers in contention for first place in the ACC. Currently, UNC is the only team ranked above the Cavs.
"Big game, big game," Swanson said about tonight's match against the Hokies. "I liked the way we came back after the UNC game, and I felt we deserved that win against Clemson. I think we're ready for this one."
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