“I think every year and every season our expectation and our goal is to win the ACC Tournament and win the national championship,” senior goalie Celeste Miles said, following the Cavaliers’ last exhibition game.
Goals and expectations are, of course, a constant theme in sports — either for an upcoming game, or even a whole season. These expectations seem to make all the difference in sports; they define success. Virginia women’s soccer is no different. The team’s strength and confidence, however, may be as much of a burden as a blessing as the team strives for perfection.
“We are fortunate enough to have such a good program, such good players around the nation,” senior midfielder Kelly Quinn said. “We are expected to be a Final Four team every year. Every game we want to win ... so this year our big goal is to win every season game and don’t tie and don’t lose those easy ones you shouldn’t.”
No one doubts the Cavaliers have a strong program, but herein lies the added pressure. Last season, for example, the Duke men’s basketball team got knocked out early of both the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. The majority of sports fans may have considered that to be a less-than-successful season for the Blue Devils. If, however, the Virginia basketball team had managed to make the NCAA Tournament at all, most fans here might have considered that a successful season for the Cavaliers because they reached a goal and exceeded expectations. Aiming for perfection, though, creates a very small target to hit.
“I think the players that have played here, especially in my time, they take a lot of pride in the history of the program,” coach Steve Swanson said. “I think there is a lot of pride in pushing the program forward and trying to add to that.”
As ambitious as this season’s expectations may be, they are by no means unrealistic. The Cavaliers are returning nine starters from a team that ended last season with a top-10 ranking. This includes senior Nikki Krzysik — an All-American last year and a pre-season All-American this year — who leads a defensive line that let up only 0.4 goals a game last season.
The Cavaliers had a promising start toward their goals Friday with their first game against Loyola. The Cavaliers shut out the Greyhounds 4-0, outshooting them 26-1.
Virginia, which went into the game ranked No. 6 nationally, will not use its victory as an excuse to relax.
“I think we actually should have scored more,” said Quinn, who scored two goals. “I think we looked tired and we still have a lot of work to do.”
As the season continues, the challenges will only get tougher. The Cavaliers are set to play eight ranked opponents and must deal with their loss of alumna Shannon Foley, who was last year’s leading goal-scorer, and their star goalie Chantel Jones, a freshman All-American last year who will be sitting out the season to play in the U-20 World Cup.
Despite the challenges, many expect the Cavaliers to make a run at the ACC Championship and go deep in the NCAA Championship. They had a lot of close games and ties last year, and if they can reverse that trend this year, they could earn a good seed in the NCAA Tournament.
“We have a target on our back,” Quinn said. Everyone is going to give us their best game.”
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