The No. 14 Virginia women's soccer opens ACC play Thursday night against N.C. State in Raleigh, N.C.
After a convincing 2-0 showing against American University last Sunday afternoon at home, the Cavaliers are unbeaten in seven straight games since an opening 1-0 loss to No. 12 Penn State Aug. 21.
"I think we are definitely ready," junior forward Meghan Lenczyk said. "These pre-conference games have really prepared us for what's coming in the ACC."
Offensively, Virginia (5-1-2) has a well balanced attack in that it is one of only two schools nationally to have five players averaging more than a point per game. Lenczyk leads the Cavaliers in scoring with 14 points on six goals and two assists. Forwards sophomore Lauren Alwine and freshman Caroline Miller, scorers of 11 and 10 respectively, also have made significant contributions. Meanwhile, junior midfielder Sinead Farrelly and senior midfielder Jess Rostedt both have recorded nine points.
In all, the Cavaliers have taken 150 shots to just 55 by their opponents, all while scoring 24 points and averaging 18.8 shots per game. Virginia's depth has allowed for continuously changing lineups and opportunities for players.
Despite the team's many strengths, though, the Cavaliers have recorded two tie games that could have been wins.
"We've got a lot of new faces so we are looking at a lot of new things," Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. "I'm trying to give people chances without risking the continuity. We are looking at some different combinations still. But I think I'm learning more and more as every game goes. Now that we are in [conference play], we will try to make it a little more consistent."
In goal for Virginia, sophomore goalkeeper Chantel Jones has started all eight matches and tallied a 0.48 GAA in more than 750 minutes of action. Thus far, she has three shutouts and has made 21 saves, allowing only four goals.
Jones and the Cavaliers will face a N.C. State team hungry for redemption after a 1-0 loss to Charlotte last Sunday dropped its record to 5-2-1. Although the Wolfpack were limited to only five shots in that game, the offense has dangerous attackers Virginia will need to contain.
Freshman forward Kara Blosser leads the Wolfpack with 13 points and six goals. Meanwhile, sophomore forward Paige Dugal has five goals on the year and is tied for third in the league along with classmate forward Tanya Cain with two game-winning goals apiece. Cain is also one of five players in the ACC to record a hat trick this season.
The matchup against Virginia will be the first ACC action the Wolfpack - coached by Steve Springthorpe - have seen this year. N.C. State is 3-1-1 at home in 2009.
Virginia, however, has a 19-12-2 lead in the all-time series and the Wolfpack has not beaten the Cavaliers since 1995.
"It's always tough in our conference to play anywhere, against anybody, but particularly on the road," Swanson said, "We are looking forward to it."
The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday. Up next for Virginia is a three-game homestand that will begin Sunday.
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