Should the Turtle be feared? Well, this year, yes and no. The No. 3 Virginia women's soccer team will face the Terrapins tonight at Klöckner Stadium at 7 p.m. The Cavaliers head into tonight's matchup with a 10-1-4 (4-0-3 ACC) record. The Cavs are currently riding an 12-game unbeaten streak and will look to continue that trend tonight.
Fortunately for Virginia, tonight's ACC contest against Maryland should not be as difficult as other ACC games. Maryland is going through a tough season and is currently winless in the ACC. The Terrapins come into tonight's game with a 5-6-3 record (0-5-1 ACC) and will look to get back on track in the conference standings. Although the Terps are having a subpar season, Virginia players are remaining focused on the challenge presented by Maryland. It would be easy for Virginia to overlook a team of Maryland's caliber, especially considering the two tough upcoming road tests the Cavs will face against North Carolina and Boston College. The Cavaliers, however, maintain they remain determined to add another ACC win to their résumé.
"You can't overlook any team because anything can happen in the ACC," redshirt freshman goalkeeper Chantel Jones said. "Miami beat North Carolina last week. We know Maryland will give us a tough test and we're not going to overlook them."
Maryland is led offensively by junior midfielder Nataly Arias and senior forward Kelly Rozumalski. Arias leads the Terps in points this season with nine points on four goals and one assist. Rozumalski recently recorded three points in a come-from-behind draw against Duke. Both players have a lot of speed and ability and should give the Cavalier defense a tough test. It is likely, however, that senior defender Becky Sauerbrunn, junior defender Nikki Krzysik and the rest of the Cavalier backline will be up to the challenge.
Defensively, the Terrapins boast a skilled and athletic goalkeeper. Freshman goalkeeper Yewande Balogun is having an dominant first season in goal for the Terps. Balogun has posted a .819 save percentage, an excellent statistic for such a young player.
"I know they have a good goalkeeper and a couple good forwards," Jones said. "But I'm confident that we can contain them defensively."
Virginia comes into tonight's game riding a high. The Cavs have won twelve straight games and are enjoying one of their best seasons in recent memory. Although the Cavaliers have sustained several significant injuries, they have been able to succeed without several marquee players. Junior forward Jess Rostedt, Virginia's leading scorer the past two seasons, has been injured since the second week of the season. Her loss, however, has been offset by the stellar play of senior forward Shannon Foley and the emerging play of freshman midfielder Sinead Farrelly and sophomore forward Caitlin Miskel. All three players have been major offensive forces for the Cavaliers.
On the defensive side of the ball, Virginia continues its great play, as it has all season. Virginia ranks first in the NCAA in goals against and shutout percentage and second in save percentage. The Cavaliers have had a dominant defense all season and will use that force to contain and frustrate the Terrapins tonight.
With the season winding down, Virginia's seniors have an added incentive to win: They would like to post yet another victory at Klöckner Stadium before moving on from Virginia soccer.
"It's sad to know that your career is almost over," Foley said. "But we've still got a good part of the season left"
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