The Virginia women's soccer team begins NCAA tournament play this weekend in friendly confines and against familiar opposition.
Tonight at Klöckner Stadium, the home-standing No. 2 Cavaliers (16-2-2) will take on in-state foe James Madison (11-7-3) for a second time this season. Following that game, ACC compatriot No. 20 Duke (12-7-0) will take on CAA champion Virginia Commonwealth (15-6), making its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. The winners of these two first-round games will meet Sunday afternoon for a place in the final 16.
After capturing the ACC tournament championship last weekend, Virginia earned the third seed in the NCAA tournament, ensuring home-field advantage until the semifinals. Only North Carolina and Penn State are seeded above the Cavaliers. At home this season, Virginia has ceded only four goals and is unbeaten and untied in 10 contests.
"I think it's a great advantage," senior defender Gillian Hatch said of playing at home. "We've always done well at Klöckner. It's a huge advantage to sleep in your own bed and be around familiar surroundings."
In the regular season matchup with James Madison, held a month ago in Charlottesville, Virginia dominated play from start to finish in a 5-0 victory. Midfielder Kelly Hammond had her first multi-goal game of the season, including the eventual game-winner in the first half.
James Madison's comeback hopes were dashed when, already trailing by a goal late in the first half, defender Shannon Seipp was sent off for a near tackle of Hammond. Virginia utilized the resulting space and possession to add four second-half insurance markers. In addition to Hammond's pair of tallies, team-leading scorer Lindsay Gusick had two goals, and substitute Ariel Thompson added one.
"We've played [JMU] before this year, so that will probably help," Virginia defender Jessica Trainor said. "Everything is different now. They've probably changed some things since then, and we've changed some things since then, so I think it'll be a completely new game."
Virginia also faced potential second-round opponent Duke during the regular season, defeating the Blue Devils 2-1 at home. Cavalier midfielder Shannon Foley scored a pair of goals before 2004 ACC Offensive Player of the Year Casey McCluskey pulled one back late for Duke.
The Cavaliers have not faced VCU since 1998, with a lifetime record of 1-0-1 against the Rams. The Rams' strike tandem of Jen Parsons and Solfrid Andersen has combined for 27 goals and 15 assists on the season.
Virginia looks to build on its ACC tournament success this weekend by maintaining an unblemished home record and advancing to play another game.