Virginia women’s soccer took its exclusion from the preseason top-25 rankings personally. Winners of their first seven games of the 2024 season, the No. 2 Cavaliers have outscored their opponents by a 19-1 margin — in the past four games, they have not allowed a single shot on goal. While Virginia’s non-conference excellence has established the team as a national championship contender, the upcoming challenge of the ACC season is what will decide the trajectory of their season.
The Cavaliers were faced with a similar situation last year — they ended the non-conference slate undefeated before their season spiraled to a disappointing end. Virginia burned out in conference games and missed the postseason for the first time in Coach Steve Swanson’s storied 25-year tenure at the helm of the program.
The ACC is always a difficult conference, but this year’s competition appears to be some of the strongest in recent memory. Currently, half of Virginia’s conference matchups are against ranked opponents, highlighted by away trips to No. 10 North Carolina in September, No. 8 Duke in October and No. 3 Florida State later in the month. It will be a gauntlet, and it is a daunting task, but the Cavaliers have given their fans plenty of reason to be optimistic.
Virginia has already beaten a ranked opponent on the road — the Cavaliers upset then-No. 3 Penn State in August after scoring a pair of second-half goals in State College, Pa. Last season, Virginia did not play a ranked team in its non-conference slate and thus had no indication of how it might stack up against the ACC’s best. The Cavaliers know they belong among the top contenders this time around.
Virginia’s backline is once again one of the most stout in the nation. The combination of graduate defender Moira Kelley, senior defenders Kiki Maki, Laney Rouse and Samar Guidry plus junior defender Tatum Galvin has consistently neutralized the opposition. Additionally, sophomore goalkeeper Victoria Safradin has shown up big this season, as both her shot stopping and distribution abilities have elevated the Cavaliers’ build-up play.
In the center of the park, senior midfielder Lia Godfrey and graduate midfielder Alexis Theoret are the motor behind a flying Cavalier attack. They are not just spraying through balls, switching the play and kick-starting the attack for their teammates — they are also tracking back on defense and preventing the opposition’s counterattack. That effort-fueled play in the midfield has been critical to Virginia’s success in dominating possession this season.
Despite the aptitude and technique in the Cavalier build-up this season, the brilliance and flair of the attacking play has been the most eye-catching and is arguably the most crucial for success against other strong ACC teams. Junior forward Maggie Cagle has been the star of Virginia’s show in that regard. Cagle has five goals in seven games, and she has created a barrage of chances for her teammates with her adept dribbling, inventive playmaking and elusive runs.
In tow, and never removed from play, is senior midfielder Laughlin Ryan. She is always ready to support Cagle, fearlessly taking on opponents one-on-one and taking shots from range — Ryan’s tally of two goals and two assists shows her impact on the offensive end. Sophomore forward Allie Ross is another crucial contributor, never shying away from the spotlight. Her 19 shot attempts lead the team and, like Ryan, she has a pair each of goals and assists.
Virginia clearly possesses the forte to compete in and win the most skilled conference in the country. But coaching is often the difference between teams that are simply good and teams that are truly great — good thing Swanson is up to the challenge.
His emphasis on controlled build-up, quick transitions and innovative play up top have left the Cavaliers’ opponents chasing shadows this season. If he sticks with the tactics that got Virginia off to its hot start, it will not be too long until some of the ACC’s finest teams are picking the ball up out of their own net after an abundance of Cavalier goals.
Swanson will need to be vocal with his team throughout a 10-game stretch that will test every player on the Cavaliers’ roster. It would be unbalanced to think that the ACC will hang its head low in favor of Virginia’s objectives, and Swanson will be an important factor in keeping the team cool in times of stress and fired up in times of turmoil.
As the Cavaliers set out to avenge a less-than-stellar 2023 season, the expectations are once again lofty. But more so than last year, the tools are present for conference glory — do not be surprised if Virginia adds a third ACC Tournament title to the trophy case this year.
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