The third-ranked Virginia Cavaliers (4-0-0) may be truly tested for the first time this season this weekend, as the team will play host to two quality opponents. Virginia will play host to Oklahoma (3-1-1) Friday and, to close out the weekend, to No. 25 Pepperdine (3-1-0) Sunday.
The team has looked very strong thus far, dominating possession and recording four straight shutouts against lesser competition. Oklahoma and Pepperdine represent a step up in competition for the Cavaliers, but the team is excited about the challenge.
“They are going to be a good test for us,” senior goalkeeper Morgan Stearns said. “They’re probably a little more organized and athletic than teams we’ve played so far. So it’ll good for us to get a tune-up before ACC play.”
The Cavaliers need a tune up because the team has yet to be really challenged. The team has outshot its opponents by staggering margins, and Stearns has yet to truly be called into action.
“I’ll give all credit to our defense, not just the back four,” Stearns said. “I think our team has worked a lot on team defense every practice. I think our organization and our ability to press has been the reason we haven’t faced too many shots yet.”
Although nearly perfect thus far, the team is not yet where they want to be going forward. This is a team that can compete for a national title, as it has nearly every year this millennium, so everything needs to be refined.
As the team is not in ACC play yet, and thus has not faced the type of elite competition the conference is known for, it is difficult to precisely gauge the team’s skill level, and the Cavaliers must continue improving as the competition heats up.
“We are going to continue working on our defensive organization,” Stearns said. “Before ACC play we want to work on our transition play … how we transform defense to offense to create a more organized attack”
One aspect to watch for is the influx of young talent, who can add a new dimension to the team’s play. However, these players have a lot to learn from their more senior teammates who have years of experience and have played on some of the biggest stages in college soccer.
“The young players have been amazing and have really bought into the ideals of our program,” Stearns said. “The biggest thing is to keep going, trust in the system and follow the senior leadership.”
Looking forward, the Cavaliers appear to have a fine balance of youth and experience. Buying into coach Steve Swanson’s system and the team culture will be critical to developing much needed team chemistry, but Stearns said she is not worried about the adjustment. It’s more a matter of when, not if, they will fully integrate into the team.
“If they keep having fun and doing what our coaches are telling them, they will continue to succeed,” Stearns said.
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