Wear your orange, paint your faces, prepare to scream yourselves hoarse. These are our picks for the top ten must-see Virginia home games this fall.
1. Football vs. Virginia Tech: Nov. 19, time TBA. This is the game of the semester. The success of Virginia's season could very well rest on the outcome of this game. The rivalry returns to Charlottesville and after the Hokies managed to snuff out countless Virginia offensive opportunities in last season's 24-10 loss in Blacksburg, ending the Cavaliers chance for a conference title, Virginia will be itching to try and regain bragging rights.
2. Football vs. Florida State: Oct. 15, time TBA. Every self-respecting Virginia fan will be chomping at the bit waiting for this season's matchup against the Seminoles. Last year's embarrassing 36-3 loss in Tallahassee was Virginia's first of the season, bringing the Cavaliers back down to earth after skyrocketing to a No. 6 national ranking. The Seminoles are ranked No. 1 in the Atlantic Division of the ACC this year.
3. Men's Soccer vs. Duke: Oct. 16, 1 p.m. The Duke-Virginia soccer rivalry runs deep. The Cavaliers took the win in overtime during the regular season contest with the Blue Devils and knocked them out of the ACC Tournament with a 3-1 win in the quarterfinals. Duke, however, got its revenge by sending Virginia packing from the NCAA Tournament in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 routing. Duke sits high atop both conference and national rankings, and with Virginia's matchup with Maryland occurring in College Park, this will easily be the season's most important home game for the Cavs.
4. Men's Soccer vs. North Carolina: Oct. 1, 7 p.m. While the Cavaliers managed to win the ACC Championship last season without facing the Tar Heels, their early regular season loss on the road will be fresh in the minds of Virginia players when they face No. 17 North Carolina. This will be an important conference for the Cavaliers in preparation for their matchup with No. 3 Duke two weeks later.
5. Women's Soccer vs. Maryland: Oct. 23, 2 p.m. The Cavaliers lost or tied only three regular season games last season, one of which came on the road against the rivals Terrapins. Virginia will face No. 20 Maryland in Klöckner Stadium this year with the opportunity to get back at the Terps for a disappointing 0-0 tie in College Park last season. This matchup will undoubtedly be the home game of the year for the nation's preseason No. 4 ranked team.
6. Football vs. Georgia Tech: Nov. 12, time TBA. With Miami and Virginia Tech heavily favored to lead the Atlantic division of the ACC, Georgia Tech and Virginia will likely battle it out for the third place spot. The Yellow Jackets will also be eager to avenge Virginia's decisive 30-10 win in Atlanta last season.
7. Women's Soccer vs. Tennessee: Sept. 9, 7 p.m. In a season when the Cavaliers play No. 1 North Carolina, No. 6 Penn State and No. 8 Duke on the road, the team's second biggest home game will come quickly as the No. 20 Volunteers travel to Charlottesville in early September. Tennessee ended UNC's three-year, 31-match winning streak with a 0-0 double overtime tie in Knoxville, Tenn.
8. Volleyball vs. Georgia Tech: November 26, 5 p.m. Entering the season as the only ranked ACC team, the No. 20 Yellow Jackets come to town in late November in Virginia's last regular season opponent. In 2004, Georgia Tech disperses of the Cavaliers 3-1 in Atlanta. This season, the Cavaliers are picked third in the preseason ACC poll and will target their season finale as an opportunity for the program to make a national statement.
9. Field Hockey vs. North Carolina, Oct. 16, 1 p.m. Ranked No. 1 entering last year's postseason, UNC lost a heartbreaker to rival Duke in the second round of the NCAA Field Hockey tournament. This year, the Cavaliers will look to avenge their 0-4 thumping in Chapel Hill in 2004.
10. Cross Country @ Cavalier Open, Nov. 5, time TBA. In one of only two home meets this upcoming season, the Cavaliers will use this meet as a chance to prepare for the NCAA Regional meet, which begins the following weekend. Virginia returns three All-Regional performers from a 2004 team that narrowly missed a NCAA Championship birth.
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