The No. 3 Virginia (8-0-0) women's soccer team will aim to extend the 11-game Cavalier curse against Florida State in Tallahassee tonight in what could be one of the best games in the rivalry's history.
The No. 8 Seminoles (7-1-0) are off to their best start in school history, only having lost to in-state nemesis No. 7 Florida.
Under coach Patrick Baker, now in his fifth season, the Florida State program has made great strides, but has never defeated Virginia in regulation (0-10-1 all-time). The Seminoles beat the Cavaliers at the 2001 ACC Championships in a shootout, but the game was officially recorded as a tie. The last seven games between the Cavaliers and Seminoles have been decided by one goal, including last year's thriller in Charlottesville.
Eighty-four minutes into the game, the Seminoles finally looked as if they would break the hex, holding a 2-1 lead. However, midfielder Kelly Hammond tallied her second goal of the game off of a cross from Noelle Keselica to tie the score with five minutes left.
Virginia continued to mount pressure in the final minutes, and forward Ariel Thompson tallied the game-winner with 27 seconds remaining on a one-timer into the top corner.
Leading the Seminoles up front this season in the 4-4-2 formation are forwards Leah Gallegos and Julia Schnugg, in their second year playing together. Gallegos, a consensus All-American last year as a sophomore, leads the Seminoles this season with 10 points, on three goals and four assists. Schnugg, who was second on the team in scoring and made the ACC All-Freshman Team last season, has three goals and two assists on the current campaign.
Florida State sophomore Kelly Rowland anchors a defense in front of goalkeeper Joy McKenzie that has conceded only six goals this season. Rowland was the most valuable player of the 2003 ACC Tournament, leading all players in goals. This week, she was named to Soccer Buzz's Elite Team of the Week for her play in three Seminole victories.
Rowland was joined on the Team of the Week by Virginia midfielder Shannon Foley, who received the honor for the second time this season. Foley, who leads the team with 19 points, tallied two goals and two assists as the Cavaliers defeated George Mason and William & Mary last weekend.
"FSU matches up with us really well," Foley said. "They play the same style as we do. It was a big win for us last year and we need another big win this weekend."
The Cavaliers have been dominant on their way to posting one of only five undefeated, untied records in Division I. Virginia is averaging 3.38 goals per game while holding its opponents to a full three goals per game less (0.38). Reflecting the stingy defense in front of her, Virginia goalkeeper Christina de Vries has kept six clean sheets this year.
Swanson is looking forward to tonight's contest as both a coach and fan of the game.
"This game should be a great ad for college soccer," Swanson said. "Both teams are skillful and play exciting soccer. There is a great atmosphere surrounding the game. It's got everything. If I weren't coaching in it, I'd be watching."
Virginia will look to get over halfway to the record of consecutive wins in a season, 16 in 1990, with a victory against the revenge-minded Seminoles.
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