Final 12 months, I wrote in an early-season column predicting that the Virginia ladies’s soccer crew would win the 2021 nationwide championship. Nonetheless, Coach Steve Swanson’s squad prematurely fell to BYU by a single objective within the third spherical of the NCAA Event. This 12 months, I’m doubling down on my declare from final 12 months. Regardless of a number of key departures, what stays is motive to be optimistic for what lies forward, and if the remaining Cavaliers can easily step into greater roles, Virginia can win this system’s elusive first nationwide championship.

One of many evident holes Virginia should fill is that left by former goalkeeper Laurel Ivory, who’s now on the Seattle-based Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League facet, OL Reign. Ivory’s accolades are intensive. She is second all-time in clear sheets, and her 68 profession wins stand at second in program historical past. For sure, whoever replaces her has huge footwear to fill. That alternative is more likely to be junior goalkeeper Cayla White. White has appeared in 11 video games for the Cavaliers, posting 4 clear sheets. The junior has carried out properly in her restricted minutes, however continues to be comparatively untested.

A big a part of Ivory’s distinctive success was the protection in entrance of her. The middle-back pairing of senior Claire Fixed and junior Talia Staude was phenomenal all through the 2021 marketing campaign. The 2 began in all however one sport collectively final season and anchored a Cavalier protection that posted 13 clear sheets.  Sadly, this pair will likely be damaged up with Fixed’s commencement. Nonetheless, Staude is a third-team all-ACC member and can little question look to climb the ranks in her closing season. In February, Staude was referred to as as much as characterize the under-23 United States Girls’s Nationwide Group, additional bolstering her pedigree.

Lining up on both facet of the center-backs is outstanding expertise — extra United States Nationwide Group-level expertise. Sophomore outside-backs Samar Guidry and Laney Rouse have been each referred to as as much as the under-20 United States Girls’s Nationwide Group coaching camp. The fullback duo inject electrical tempo into the assault however are hardly ever caught out of place on protection. They’ve brilliant futures and will definitely develop into greater roles of their junior seasons.  

Shifting up into the midfield, reigning ACC Coach of the 12 months Swanson has a number of All-ACC choices in his midfield. The departure of midfielder Taryn Torres to the NWSL’s Gotham FC will likely be felt tremendously. With a tireless work ethic and distinctive technical expertise and elite imaginative and prescient, it’s no shock Torres earned Participant of the Match honors in solely her second NWSL begin. Gotham has fittingly dubbed her “Picasso.”  Moreover, graduate pupil midfielder Sydney Zandi, who began all 23 video games final 12 months, will likely be graduating.

With these departures, there are inquiries to be answered in the midst of the pitch. After incomes first-team All-ACC honors, sophomore midfielder Lia Godfrey could have a good greater function, as she’s going to doubtless dictate the crew’s tempo. She effortlessly glides by means of defenders and might play harmful slicing passes in direction of objective however isn’t afraid of going into contact.  Her 12 targets and three assists earned her All-Area and All-American honors and, finally, a spot on the under-23 United States Nationwide Group — the ceiling of this 5-foot-4 maestro is extraordinarily excessive. Sophomore midfielder Alexis Theoret, who performed all 23 video games final season, will doubtless be a part of Godfrey. By the top of the season, Theoret was logging constant minutes and performed a season-long 78 minutes within the Cavaliers’ season-ending loss to BYU. As for the third midfield spot, junior Emma Dawson makes a robust case, having additionally performed a season-long 78 minutes within the closing sport of the season.

Going in direction of objective, count on rising pains for Virginia — the opening that’s left by senior ahead Diana Ordoñez is ineffable. The sixth choose within the 2022 NWSL Draft to NC Braveness, Ordoñez left a historic imprint on this system. By the point of her departure for the NWSL, she had twice led the ACC in targets, earned All-ACC picks 3 times, and scored a whopping 102 targets for the Cavaliers — third all time — all whereas forgoing her closing 12 months of eligibility. Underscoring her meteoric ascent, she was referred to as as much as the senior Mexican coaching camp April 1. 

She scored 15 game-winning targets, inserting herself fifth in Cavalier historical past for that class.  Subsequent season, Virginia will play with out their get-out-of-jail-free card for the primary time since 2018.  On high of the lack of Ordoñez, graduate pupil ahead Haley Hopkins — Vanderbilt-transfer and All-ACC Third Group member — is graduating. So, what stays for the Cavaliers offensively?

The one returner from the beginning entrance three is senior ahead Alexa Spaanstra, who opted for a fifth 12 months. Spaanstra tied Hopkins for second on the crew in assists and was third in scoring behind her aforementioned attacking friends. She is fast, bodily, good and industrious. Her efforts have been acknowledged by United States Nationwide Group scouts as she earned an under-23 call-up, much like Godfrey and Staude.  

Enjoying with out Ordoñez and Hopkins will likely be a novel problem, however there are nonetheless attacking choices. Spaanstra will likely be put within the highlight, however her attacking teammates may also must step up. Sophomore Brianna Jablanoski performed in 19 video games final 12 months and notably improved because the season progressed. Moreover, sophomore Sarah Brunner contributed 208 minutes final season. She served as an out of doors again however is listed as a ahead.There are little question glimpses of expertise, however shedding Hopkins and a 5-foot-11 finisher in Ordoñez will likely be felt for a while.  Spaanstra must undertake an even bigger function within the assault as she leads the newcomers.

Regardless of the 2021 Cavaliers’ dominant common season, the heights of a championship have been by no means reached. Regardless, I will likely be doubling down on my earlier nationwide championship predictions. This time, nevertheless, they’re contingent on a number of holes being adequately crammed and sure gamers, like Spaanstra, Godfrey and the protection, assuming greater roles throughout the crew. Shedding Ordoñez is a big loss, and changing her productiveness is not any straightforward activity. Nonetheless, there are six months till the season begins, giving Swanson time to determine a brand new system. It isn’t a matter of if Swanson’s crew will carry out, however when. Most significantly, after they carry out, will or not it’s sufficient to acquire the perennially elusive nationwide championship?