Virginia women’s soccer has always maintained a certain pedigree. Expectations are high for anyone that steps into Klöckner Stadium — since the team’s founding in 1985, Virginia has missed the NCAA Tournament just four times. In the ever-competitive ACC, meeting those expectations this season presents a new challenge for Coach Steve Swanson’s Virginia.
With the Cavaliers’ first contest scheduled for Wednesday, three Cavalier Daily beat writers tackle questions about this year’s squad, anticipated matchups and how the team may perform during the 2026-27 campaign.
What should we expect from this year’s team?
Sofie Keppler, Senior Writer: Virginia begins its 17-game season with a six-game homestand, so I think fans can expect the Cavaliers to anchor a dominant opening run at Klöckner Stadium, considering Virginia won 10 of its 13 home games last season. Toward the middle of the Cavaliers’ schedule is where things may get dicey, as Virginia is playing 10 teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year. Overall, Virginia has the pieces to contend for a national championship, provided its offense quickly adapts to the loss of Lia Godfrey’s finishing ability and continues to lean on star senior goalkeeper Victoria Safradin, who recently earned a nomination on the MAC Hermann Trophy Goalkeepers to Watch list.
Peter Kratz, Staff Writer: With the departure of Maggie Cagle — who contributed 11 goals and six assists last season — Virginia will need to find more creativity on attack. Expect more emphasis on chance creation from the wing, while also maintaining the high-possession style that Swanson usually commands.
Although the squad is missing some offensive firepower compared to last year, the Cavaliers will be glad to avoid ACC opponents No. 1 Stanford and No. 4 Florida State on their schedule. Virginia still has to go through one of the toughest schedules in college soccer, but an experienced backline and coaching staff will help the Cavaliers protect leads and maintain control down the stretch. It might not be time for Virginia to be considered serious national contenders again, but a conference championship is certainly attainable.
David Sewall, Staff Writer: I expect this year’s team to feel less like a rebuild and more like a reshuffling. Virginia earned a No. 1 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament, finishing 14-3-5, but several of the veteran leaders who drove that success are gone. Cagle and Godfrey are not walking through that door, which should put more responsibility on a talented group of underclassmen that already saw meaningful minutes last season. Virginia started three freshmen in its second-round NCAA Tournament victory over Penn State last season, with several of those players — including sophomore midfielder and forward Addison Halpern — expected to step into a larger role. With proven veterans still anchoring the defense, the biggest question is how consistently the Cavaliers can generate offense. If that younger group can replace some of the production Virginia lost, the Cavaliers should remain firmly in the mix near the top of the ACC.
What game are you most excited to watch this season?
SK: It is always a treat to watch Virginia face Virginia Tech in the annual Commonwealth Clash. Virginia Tech will be hungry to take home a win in the Oct. 16 matchup after a seven-year winning drought against the Cavaliers — especially on the Hokies’ home field. Playing in Blacksburg will undoubtedly raise the stakes for a Virginia team with a target on its back, so it will be exciting to see how the Cavaliers respond to their rival in a hostile environment, even if Virginia is still a preseason favorite over Virginia Tech.
PK: Because the Cavaliers aren’t traveling away from home for a contest until their second game in September, it will be important to see how the squad fares when they finally go on the road. A perfect litmus test rears its head when Virginia travels to face preseason No. 18 Wake Forest Sept. 12. The Demon Deacons crushed the Cavaliers in their last meeting in 2024, a loss that started Virginia’s spiral from being ranked No. 2 in the country to missing the ACC tournament entirely. With a win, Virginia can kill two birds with one stone — avenging their loss and picking up their first conference victory.
DS: North Carolina’s Sept. 25 visit to Klöckner Stadium is the game that stands out to me. Few opponents offer a better measuring stick than the Tar Heels, who have won 23 national championships and hold a 41-5-5 advantage in the all-time series against the Cavaliers, with their most recent meeting coming in 2024. By the time this game arrives, Virginia will have already faced No.18 Wake Forest and Miami, though this game stands out as another test early in ACC play for the Cavaliers to prove that they can compete with one of the sport’s defining programs.
Who do you expect to take a step forward on this roster?
SK: This season, Addison Halpern has the opportunity to be the focal point of Virginia’s goal scoring. Since All-American midfielder Lia Godfrey exhausted her final year of eligibility last season, Halpern will have the ball at her feet more than ever following a promising freshman season — she started 21 of Virginia’s 22 matches while recording four goals and three assists. Halpern was a highly decorated prospect even before her freshman debut, arriving in Charlottesville with 180 high school goals and the Gatorade National Player of the Year honor. The ACC All-Freshman Team selection is primed to be a surefire scoring threat this season now that she has fully adjusted to the heightened pace and physicality of the collegiate level.
PK: With four years of experience under her belt, fifth-year midfielder Jill Flammia certainly doesn’t lack the know-how to be successful in college soccer. After a strong first two seasons for the Cavaliers, including an ACC All-Freshman Team appearance, Flammia redshirted her 2024 campaign. Despite the bump in the road, she bounced back in 2025, growing into the season, even playing a full 90 minutes in Virginia’s NCAA round of 16 game. With the Cavaliers losing some important midfield pieces in the offseason, expect Flammia to take on a large role in 2026 and show her mettle.
DS: Sophomore midfielder and defender Pearl Cecil is a player I expect to have a much larger impact this season. Cecil only appeared in nine games as a freshman, but some of that limited availability came while representing the United States in a pair of tournaments at the U-17 level, including the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Still, she managed to score her first collegiate goal against Xavier and assisted in Virginia’s NCAA Tournament opener victory over High Point. Cecil then played a season-high 67 minutes in the Cavaliers’ Round of 16 matchup against Washington. A recent call-up to the United States U-19 team points to the talent Virginia has at its disposal. With a full collegiate season behind her, Cecil has a clear opportunity to turn into a star for the Cavaliers.
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