Virginia had played four games and won all of them decisively. Yet the Cavaliers still entered this weekend's tournament unsure of their place among the country's elite.
Friday night's game against No. 3 UCLA changed all of that. From the minute the whistle blew, the Cavaliers played at a totally different speed than their cross-country challengers. They moved the ball better. They had better spacing. They hit more quality shots. And maybe most telling, they won every 50-50 ball in sight. Simply put, Virginia knew it needed to come out attacking and take it to the experienced Bruin defense, and that is exactly what the team did.
Now almost assured of moving up in the national polls, it is time to reflect on what has and has not been successful in preparation for the upcoming conference schedule. Defensively, the Cavaliers have been a force. Three goals allowed in six games, none until this weekend, only partly indicate how dominant Virginia's defense has been. The four Cavalier defenders who anchor the defense have been rock solid. In addition to their miniscule goals against average, the Cavaliers have severely limited the amount of shots that junior goalkeeper Cristina de Vries has had to stop in her first season as the team's starting goalie.
On the offensive side of the ball, the story is much the same. The return of junior forward Kristen Weiss has only added to the firepower provided by sophomore Shannon Foley's lighting left foot and senior Lindsay Gusick's rapidly ascending career totals (currently 6th in points and 7th in goals). All in all, Virginia coach Steve Swanson has to be pleased with 22 goals in six games.
Pleased is one thing, but satisfied is certainly another. Swanson knows that ACC play has yet to begin, and that means there are three Top 10 teams still remaining on the schedule. Included in this group with Florida State and Clemson is the one school no one in women's soccer wants to play: North Carolina. The closest thing collegiate athletics has to a dynasty, North Carolina women's soccer has produced some of this country's finest international players, ranging from Mia Hamm in the late 80s all the way to current Tar Heel and national team member Lindsay Tarpley.
With a tie last Friday against Tennessee, North Carolina saw its 31-match winning streak come to a halt. Last year's national champions, the Tar Heels have won 18 national titles since their program began in 1979. During that stretch, they have never finished below fourth and that has only happened twice.
Needless to say, Virginia realizes it will have more than it bargained for when it travels to Chapel Hill to face the Tar Heels Oct. 17. As if they needed any further motivation, Virginia has never beaten North Carolina. Never. Not once. In 20 years of Cavalier women's soccer, Virginia is 0-27 against UNC with a goal differential of 10-103. Last year, the Cavaliers scored a goal and it was viewed as an accomplishment.
This season could be different. Maybe I'm being naïve because they are playing so well right now, but this team might just break the losing streak. I'm sold on the defensive side of the ball. A back line that has played together for four years, I believe, can cause problems for North Carolina's talented forwards. And you never know, if Virginia plays possession soccer and can sneak one by the UNC goalie, this fall's meeting between the Cavaliers and the Tar Heels might be a historic one.
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