No. 1 Virginia women’s soccer finished the regular season perfect, remaining undefeated and having conceded just five goals to opponents. The Cavaliers’ (14-0-3, 6-0-3 ACC) next challenge comes Sunday, when they square off against No. 9 Duke in the ACC quarterfinal at Klockner Stadium. The teams’ last matchup Sept. 29 ended in a scoreless draw as neither team could take the lead through two periods of overtime play.
Despite remaining at the top of the United Soccer Coaches poll for its seventh consecutive week, Virginia is seeded third entering ACC play. The Cavaliers host the sixth-seeded Blue Devils (8-2-7, 3-1-6 ACC), a team that has proven its talent throughout the regular season against numerous top-ranked opponents.
Key Players
Senior forward Meghan McCool
McCool is getting hot at the perfect time with 13 goals on the season thus far, making her a leading goal-scorer alongside freshman forward Diana Ordonez. Five of those goals were game-winners for the senior, including four against ACC opponents. Named ACC Offensive Player of the Week twice in as many weeks, the star forward will look to continue to convert in the attacking third and lead Virginia to victory.
Junior goalkeeper Laurel Ivory
Ivory conceded her first goal in over 775 minutes Sunday against Boston College, but the keeper has been a key last line of defense for the Cavaliers, recording seven-straight shutouts in ACC play. The junior, who is tied for sixth in the nation in shutouts with 10, played a critical role in keeping the score even against Duke. Ivory recorded four saves against the Blue Devils, including three promising attempts in overtime play. She put on another remarkable performance against No. 5 Florida State with four saves against the reigning national champions. Ivory will need to be at the top of her game against the aggressive attackers of the Blue Devil offense.
Senior defenders Phoebe McClernon, Zoe Morse and Courtney Petersen
The defensive trio of McClernon, Morse and Petersen have been an absolute force for Virginia this season. The three defenders deserve recognition for their role in Virginia’s 12 shutouts and have contributed to one of the most successful defenses in the nation. Each has played significant minutes throughout the Cavaliers’ difficult schedule, and they have combined to cause turnovers and steal the ball back for Virginia. Sunday should be no different for the veteran players, who know what to expect from a competitive Duke team and will be prepared to break down its offense with every touch.
Keys to the game
Force turnovers
Virginia’s ability to hold Duke to just three shots during regulation earlier in the season speaks to the talent of its backline. Regardless, the Blue Devils have averaged 12.9 shots per game against difficult opponents and have forced 80 corner kicks this season. The team has also recorded 34 goals on the season, with 19 in second-half play. Virginia’s success against Duke relies on its ability to maintain possession, and that means turning the ball over and keeping the Blue Devils out of Ivory’s zone. Veteran defenders along with freshman defender Talia Staude, however, should be able to handle an aggressive Blue Devil attack by shutting down offensive drives early.
Convert in the final third
Virginia was lucky to run away with a draw against Duke earlier in the season, as the Blue Devils found the best chances to score throughout the game. Ivory made a remarkable three saves through two periods of overtime to preserve the match, but the Cavaliers were certainly tested on both sides of the ball. An offense that has been strong all season looked less so against Duke, especially in overtime play, as the Blue Devils took control of the game. In their second meeting, Virginia needs to be more efficient in the final third of the field, taking advantage of openings and refusing to allow turnovers with careless passing. The Cavaliers will also need to be quick in transitioning downfield and be prepared to score with each possession, rather than allowing Duke to catch up and steal the ball back.
While Virginia carries the momentum of an undefeated regular season and momentous wins against teams like No. 5 Florida State and No. 14 Louisville, Duke presented obvious challenges to the Cavaliers and will look to continue to threaten opponents in the ACC tournament. Virginia held a 14-3 advantage in shots during regulation and clearly looked to be the more dominant opponent in September, but the team will need to convert this time against a Duke team that has been able to force numerous scoreless draws against top teams like No. 3 North Carolina, No. 14 Louisville and No. 19 Georgetown.
Kickoff in Sunday’s match at Klockner Stadium is set for 5 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
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