Coming off their third straight win, the Virginia women's soccer team travels to Knoxville this weekend to take on the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in what will be the Cavaliers' first away contest of the season.
Sunday's game will also be the first time in the 2006 season that No. 7 Virginia faces a nationally ranked opponent. In the preseason polls, the Lady Vols were ranked 10th. Last year, they captured their third consecutive regular season Southeastern Conference title and closed out their season with a 15-6-2 record.
The Cavaliers and Lady Vols met twice in 2005. At the Nike Soccer Classic, held annually at Klöckner Stadium, Virginia lost 1-0 after Tennessee's Kylee Rossi scored the game's lone goal with only 11 seconds remaining on the clock. Later in the season, Virginia redeemed itself, sending Tennessee home when they won 3-0 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
"I think the big key now in this first four-game stretch is just to taking it one game at a time," Swanson said. "We just have to try and get through until we can get Nikki and Jess back and can work them in again."
Despite the continuing absence of Nikki Krzysik and Jess Rostedt, the Cavaliers are doing much more than just getting by. Solid in the back, senior goalkeeper Christina de Vries and her defensive squad have shutout every opponent. What's more, the defense has allowed merely five shots on goal, and de Vries has not had to make a single save.
"It's a pretty experienced backline, even though it's still pretty young," Swanson said. "We are off to a good start, and I think our backline has confidence. Now we just have to concentrate, you can always get better."
Offensively, Virginia has out-scored its opponents 11-0, has out-shot them 51-5 and has forced 14 saves. Spreading its 11 goals among six different Cavaliers, Virginia clearly has depth in the scoring department. That said, freshman Caitlin Miskel, junior Sarah Curtis and senior Kara Frederick have all posted multi-goal games.
While Virginia is currently undefeated on the season, the team did not win either of its exhibition games. Tennessee, on the other hand, defeated both Virginia Tech and Carson-Newman in preseason play but has yet to tally a win in the regular season. Despite out-shooting the Terrapins 13-1 in the second half of its season opener, Tennessee lost to Maryland 1-0 in the first round of last weekend's Penn State Invitational. In the final match of the tournament, Tennessee tied No. 3 Penn State 1-1 and improved their regular season record to 0-1-1.
In Knoxville, the Cavaliers will be seeing familiar faces from last season. For the program's 11th season, Tennessee returns nine of last year's starters, all of whom will be eager to redeem last year's post-season loss.
"It should be a good game," de Vries said. "We definitely aren't going to take them lightly, because they have always given us a tough time in the past. We just have to play smart. I think moving the ball will be key -- and maybe scoring early."
On Sunday, Tennessee will not only have the home advantage, but also, the game will be the first match ever played in their brand new Regal Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.
Read More
Virginia baseball has an ace up its sleeve and in its bullpen — Dean Kampschror
By Xander Tilock | 9 hours agoThe senior pitcher is exactly what the Cavaliers need to succeed in 2025.
Wrestling gets blown out 34-9 on long road trip to Stanford
By Ryan Weiner | YesterdaySolid performances from its most reliable trio were not enough for Virginia.
Freshman excellence powers No. 5 men’s tennis past Boise State, No. 19 Alabama
By Thomas Baxter | 2 days agoVirginia, unlike many other regional hosts, held serve as its quartet's top seed.
