On a cold night in October, the Virginia women’s soccer team dragged blankets, snacks and portable speakers into Klöckner Stadium. Some players showed up early. Others rushed in late. They teased each other for arriving at such varying times.
Virginia, unbeaten through 10 games at the time and ranked No. 1 in the country, had a game coming up against Virginia Tech. It came after already having spent two weeks facing the pressure of the top ranking in the country heading into the tense rivalry game.
At Klöckner, the entire team sat on the grass, laughed, ate snacks, huddled together and eventually watched Twilight on the big screen. It was an activity geared toward unity for a team that has really needed it all season — first as it faced the pressure of a top ranking, then as it struggled through a four-game winless streak. As No. 1 seed Virginia goes deeper into the NCAA Tournament, that unity will continue to prove important.
“I think everyone on the team feels close enough to get coffee with everyone,” fifth-year midfielder Laughlin Ryan said. “I don't think there's a single person on the team that I feel like I couldn't hang out with one-on-one, which I think is pretty unique.”
That sense of familiarity and comfort is no accident. The Cavaliers have deliberately crafted a culture of togetherness that has played a pivotal role in this season’s performance. Coach Steve Swanson says that comes from training, the place where a coach has most control over a team’s culture.
“As a staff, we try to cultivate an environment that is competitive, hard-working and fun, but where the players are free to be themselves,” Swanson said. “Part of the team chemistry comes from the time we spend together training and working together on the field to be the best team we can be.”
That carries over onto the pitch. Virginia’s possession-based soccer demands constant communication, anticipation and combination. On the pitch, the noise is constant and unique as players are constantly notifying incoming opponents’ press, signaling movements and coordinating defensive rotations.
This kind of tactical familiarity allows them to recycle possession efficiently, maintain control of the midfield and create attacking opportunities with fluidity.
That was on display in Virginia’s first-round NCAA Tournament game against High Point. Virginia’s third goal started with senior forward Maggie Cagle glancing up and then finding freshman midfielder Pearl Cecil with a through ball. Cecil then quickly moved it to freshman midfielder Addison Halpern, who fed a perfectly timed through ball back to Cagle, sprinting up the right wing.
Cagle moved the ball into the opponent’s half-space, drawing two defenders as she made a sharp cut back and passed to Cecil again in the box, who struck a one-time ball that deflected into the goal off of Halpern, who had already made a deep run into the box.
“This team has an incredible bond. It’s a sisterhood,” junior goalkeeper Victoria Safradin said. “We all play for each other on the field. Willing to put your body on the line and willing to do anything for your teammates, and our team really embodies that.”
The things that make the team’s unity special come off the field, driven by the players. Before movie night, the players enjoyed dinner in the Klöckner bleachers. Players were scattered across the stands with takeout containers despite the chilly weather.
Ryan, in her fifth year in the program, thinks things are different this season.
“I feel like the locker room energy and vibes are really high before games,” Ryan said. “We're all pumping each other up and celebrating each other, and I think it's just a really unique and special energy and relationship this year.”
The players' styles, strengths and character coalesce. Everything they do is about building chemistry rather than just individual skill development.
“I also just think our individual personalities just click with each other, so it just makes it 10 times easier,” Safradin said.
With a first-round win over High Point, the Cavaliers advanced with confidence into a match against No. 8 seed Penn State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. If they continue to execute their identity under pressure, Virginia could make a historic run towards Swanson’s searching first national title in a 26-year career with the Cavaliers.
“Our culture is very strong,” Swanson said. “We believe in one another, believe in the team and most importantly feel we have gone through games that have prepared us to hopefully make a strong postseason run.”
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