The National Soccer Coaches Association of America has ranked the Virginia women’s soccer team No. 17 nationally in its Preseason Poll, released yesterday, August 10. The Cavaliers are one of seven ACC teams ranked in the Top 25, with North Carolina topping the list at No. 1, followed by Florida State (6), Boston College (7), Wake Forest (10), Virginia Tech (15) and Maryland (16).
The Wahoos, who finished 10-6-6 and had advanced to the Round of 16 for the fifth consecutive year, will face 18 teams this season, 12 of whom qualified for postseason play last season.
Virginia will compete against eight teams ranked in the preseason poll, including No. 1 North Carolina, No. 7 Boston College and No. 10 Wake Forest at home, and No. 6 Florida State, No. 13 Penn State, No. 15 Virginia Tech, No. 16 Maryland and No. 24 West Virginia on the road.
Virginia returns 19 players, including 10 starters, from last year’s team. These players will be joined by seven elite freshmen whom as whole, head coach Steve Swanson described as "possess[ing] a great understanding of the game beyond their years."
Virginia will play an exhibition match against Notre Dame on August 13, 1:00 p.m., in Traverse City, Michigan, and will host JMU in an exhibition on August 15, 7:00 p.m. The regular season begins on August 20 against Liberty at home at 7:00 p.m.