Since becoming a varsity team in 1985, Virginia women’s soccer has been one of the premier programs in the country. For any team to be successful at such a high level, strong coaching is invaluable — inventive tactics, commanding leadership and collectedness under pressure are all X-factors that great coaches bring to their teams
Coach Steve Swanson possesses them all. Swanson took control of the Cavaliers in 2000 after four seasons at Stanford and hasn’t looked back. During his tenure, he has led Virginia to three College Cup appearances, three ACC regular season championships and two ACC Tournament championships. Along the way, he has also earned three ACC Coach of the Year honors, in 2013, 2015 and 2021.
With an Oct. 30 win against Boston College, Swanson reached 500 career wins. With so many victories under his belt, it’s worth reviewing some of his most notable milestones with the Cavaliers.
August 2000: No. 16 Virginia 3, No. 13 William and Mary 0
Swanson’s first game in charge of Virginia wasn’t an easy one, as the Cavaliers had to travel down I-64 to play an in-state foe. The Tribe were ranked in the top 15 and had all the strength of their home support behind them. But Virginia took care of business handedly to give its new coach a much-appreciated debut victory. The big win was a sign of things to come for Swanson’s successful tenure.
November 2000: Virginia 6, UNC Greensboro 1
In Swanson’s first season as head coach, the Cavaliers posted an 11-8-1 record, enough to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. They were matched up against UNC Greensboro in the second round, after a bye, and dominated. Virginia outshot the Spartans 29-4 en route to a crushing victory. The Cavaliers never trailed and managed six goals, with five scorers.
September 2003: No. 18 Virginia 4, No. 2 Santa Clara 1
On top of early success as Virginia’s gaffer, Swanson certainly progressed as his career with the Cavaliers unfolded. Early into the 2003 season, Virginia had a chance to prove it could do it against the best of the best in a matchup against then-No. 2 Santa Clara. The Cavaliers dominated the run of play early, but the Broncos got on the scoresheet first on the counterattack. Virginia roared back and scored four unanswered goals to secure its fourth-year coach his first victory against a top-5 ranked opponent.
October 2004: No. 4 Virginia 3, Virginia Tech 0
Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2004 and was matched up against the Cavaliers late into the regular season. Virginia came out hot, but the Hokies managed to keep the score level at the break. The Cavaliers then took control in the second half, scoring three times in the final 30 minutes of action to get the best of their biggest rival. Despite the lopsided scoreline, Swanson wanted more, a trademark of his coaching philosophy.
“I didn’t think we played as well as we are capable of playing tonight,” Swanson said. “I will take an ACC win any day, but you always look at the standard you set as a team.”
November 2004: No. 4 Virginia 1, No. 1 North Carolina 1
It took just Swanson’s first season to lead the Cavaliers to a conference title game. It took five to win one, in 2004. But first Virginia had to go through North Carolina, the top-ranked team in the nation, and a team that had the Cavaliers’ number in years past. Virginia struck in the 24th minute, by way of forward Lindsay Gusick. The Tar Heels answered quickly after halftime, and the score remained level for the rest of regulation and overtime.
With everything on the line, Cavalier goalkeeper Christina de Vries saved the sixth North Carolina penalty kick to clinch the victory. Even after such an important victory for the program, Swanson remained on the front foot, looking for more.
“As a purist, I hate to see a great game like this be determined by penalty kicks,” Swanson said. “Both teams deserve credit for playing a tremendous championship game.”
October 2013: No. 1 Virginia 2, No. 5 Virginia Tech 0
The Halloween fixture against Virginia Tech wasn’t just a big one because of the rivalry implications. Virginia was on the verge of completing a perfect regular season, and the Hokies were the final challenge to be faced at Klöckner Stadium before a perfect 20-0 record could be clinched. The Cavaliers ended up victorious in a dominant performance that saw them rack up nine shots on goal compared to Virginia Tech’s zero. Virginia became the first team to complete a perfect regular season since 2009, and the first to do so in the ACC since 2003.
October 2015: No. 1 Virginia 6, Pittsburgh 0
Virginia’s final regular season game of the 2015 season wasn’t just important because it was a conference game, or because it could make or break their momentum before the postseason, but because a win would guarantee another ACC regular season title. The Cavaliers were enjoying a great season, blemished by a single loss at home to Notre Dame. A win against Pittsburgh would ensure one of Swanson’s best regular-season campaigns. Virginia wasted no time, scoring five unanswered goals within the first half. Midfielders Betsy Brandon and Alexa Shaffer both tallied braces as the Cavaliers celebrated one of the best multi-year stretches in their history.
September 2016: No. 5 Virginia 2, No. 17 Virginia Tech 0
Swanson’s influence has not just resulted in more team success — it has ignited fans across the Charlottesville community. Despite the 2016 season not yielding any silverware, the matchup against the Hokies midway through the season produced the largest crowd at Klöckner Stadium ever recorded for a women’s soccer game, a whopping 3,966 fans were in attendance. Virginia won the rivalry game comfortably, sending the Cavalier faithful home with something to smile about.
October 2019: No. 1 Virginia 6, Boston College 1
Swanson’s 20th season in charge of Virginia saw the Cavaliers run through their opponents in conference play, once again securing an undefeated regular season. Their final matchup against Boston College was indicative of their strength. Five different goalscorers contributed to a six-goal outing, the most for Virginia in an ACC game that season.
Ashlynn Serepca scored twice, and Meghan McCool added to her season-long goal tally that still ranks inside the top 10 within program history.
October 2025: No. 7 Virginia 2, Boston College 0
Two weeks ago, Swanson reached a milestone that adds cement to his program’s reputation as a national powerhouse. It seemed likely he’d reach 500 wins this season. The real question was when it would come, and at 499 heading into a home game against the floundering Eagles, things seemed to work out.
The game stood scoreless at halftime. But in the 53rd minute, junior defender Tatum Galvin won a penalty, and senior forward Maggie Cagle buried it. Six minutes later, after a handball in the box, junior forward Allie Ross bagged another penalty. Swanson got doused in a bucket of water postgame.
“I never got into coaching for the recognition — I love teaching, sport and the relationships I’ve had over the years,” Swanson said. “This is not about me, rather my family and all of the players I have been fortunate to work with over the years. I’m grateful for the people in my life and this University — this is a special place.”
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