Football
What: Virginia (1-0) vs. No. 3 Oregon (1-0)
Where: Scott Stadium
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
TV: ABC/ ESPN2
The Skinny: The first top-five team the Cavaliers will play during the London era, the Ducks, tout a four-year BCS appearance streak to complement their breakneck-paced offense and overabundance of uniforms. Few outside of the Virginia program believe the team has much of a shot – Las Vegas odds opened with Oregon as a 23.5-point favorite – but the players and coaches relish the opportunity to play against the highest level of competition.
During the last five seasons, the Ducks have averaged 2.83 plays per minute of possession, second in the nation behind only Houston. Virginia has used two rotating scout team offenses in practice this week in an attempt to simulate the rapid pace of play and endurance of the Oregon offense.
—compiled by Mike Eilbacher and Zack Bartee
For full preview, click: http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2013/09/virginia-hopes-to-stay-afloat-against-no-2-ducks
Men’s Soccer
What: Virginia (1-1-0) vs. Clemson (1-0-0)
Where: Clemson, S.C.
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
The Skinny: This Friday, the Virginia men’s soccer team faces Clemson at Riggs Field in the ACC-opener for both teams. The game will serve as a measure of where Virginia stands at this early-season juncture.
If Virginia – predicted to finish fifth in conference in the ACC Coaches’ Preseason Poll – is to come anywhere near challenging No. 1 North Carolina, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 13 Maryland and No. 21 Wake Forest for the ACC regular-season championship, it will need to capture its more winnable games on the schedule. Friday’s matchup against unranked Clemson seems to fit that description.
—compiled by Matthew Morris
Women’s Soccer
What: Virginia Nike Soccer Classic matches: No. 5 Virginia (4-0) vs. Rutgers (4-0), Seton Hall (1-2-1)
Where: Klöckner Stadium
When: Friday, 7 p.m. (Scarlet Knights); Sunday, 2:30 p.m. (Pirates)
The Skinny: This weekend, the No. 5 Virginia women’s soccer team hosts its second tournament of the season when Seton Hall, Rutgers and William & Mary come to Charlottesville for the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic at Klöckner Stadium.
Friday evening, star junior midfielder Morgan Brian and the Cavaliers will put their perfect record on the line against the also undefeated Scarlet Knights to kick off tournament play.
Sunday afternoon, Virginia returns to the pitch against Big East foe Seton Hall. The Pirates and the Scarlet Knights must give stellar defensive performances if they hope to stymie the Virginia attack, which has averaged four goals per game with eight different players already having scored season.
—compiled by Ryan Taylor
Field Hockey
What: Virginia (3-0) vs. Yale (0-0), Old Dominion (1-1)
Where: New Haven, Conn.; Norfolk, Va.
When: Friday, 2 p.m. (Bulldogs); Sunday, 1 p.m. (Monarchs)
The Skinny: The No. 7 Virginia field hockey team continues its 2013 campaign this weekend with road trips to Yale and No. 8 Old Dominion. The Cavaliers will seek their first 4-0 start since 2011.
Yale, who finished with a share of the Ivy League title in 2011, opens up its season against Virginia on Friday afternoon. The Cavaliers dominated the Bulldogs last season in Charlottesville, winning 4-0. Yale returns six of its top seven goal scorers from last season, but the team has never beaten the Cavaliers.
Old Dominion, a perennial field hockey powerhouse, should pose a greater threat to Virginia. The Cavaliers narrowly defeated the Monarchs at home last season, 5-4, but have historically struggled against them, winning just 12 of 55 matches all time. Old Dominion fell to Penn State last weekend, 3-1, and will have to deal with No. 2 Maryland on Friday before facing Virginia on Sunday.
This is the first season in nearly 30 years that the Monarchs are without coach Beth Anders, who retired at the end of last season. Anders captured an NCAA-record nine National Championships at Old Dominion.
—compiled by Matt Comey
Volleyball
What: Pepperdine Tournament Matches: Virginia (3-0) vs. Colorado State (3-0), Pepperdine (2-1), UC Santa Barbara (2-1)
Where: Malibu, Calif.
When: Friday, 8 p.m. (Rams); Saturday, 1 p.m. (Waves); Saturday, 8 p.m. (Gauchos)
The Skinny: After winning all three matches on opening weekend in dominating fashion, the Virginia volleyball team hits the road, heading west to participate in the Pepperdine Invitational. The Cavaliers (3-0) will battle with Colorado State Friday, then face host Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara Saturday.
Though the three teams Virginia defeated to open the season – Marshall, James Madison and Montana – were certainly no pushovers, the team expects much tougher competition at the tournament in Malibu. The Cavaliers played Colorado State to open last season, falling 3-0. The Rams went on to make the NCAA Tournament, but were knocked out in their first game.
“After watching film the last two days, Colorado State is really good,” coach Dennis Hohenshelt said. “And we knew that, but it’s five new people. [They’re] physical [and] can hit it hard.”
Pepperdine also qualified for the tournament last year with a record of 20-12, but were eventually defeated by No. 13 Dayton. UC Santa Barbara meanwhile, finished 16-17 overall in the always-challenging Big West.
Virginia certainly benefitted in its first three games from the return of junior Mallory Woolridge, who missed the entire 2012 season with a shoulder injury. Woolridge added a strong presence at the net, recording a .378 hitting percentage and 7 block assists.
“It was amazing to go through the first weekend,” Woolridge said. “It was just such an amazing feeling to be able to sing the ‘Good Ol’ Song’ after three games. That’s really all I can say, is that it was awesome.”
—compiled by Peter Nance
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