The Virginia women's soccer team has gone from unseeded NCAA tournament qualifier to a competitor in the College Cup, soccer's version of the Final Four.
Since my last update, the Cavaliers have not given up a goal in wins over Rice, 3-0, in the Sweet 16 and TCU, 1-0, in the Elite Eight. Diana Ordonez (in photo) scored all three goals for Virginia in the win over Rice, and Lizzy Sieracki scored the goal in the victory over TCU. Ordonez leads the team with 12 goals and five assists.
In the second round, UVa defeated BYU 2-0, so the 'Hoos are on quite a roll. Good thing, because this evening's test is quite tough.
UVa (14-4-2) battles No. 1 and top-seeded Florida State (13-0-1) at 6 p.m. in Cary, N.C., in the first semifinal. The other semifinal pits No. 11 Santa Clara (10-1) and No. 2 North Carolina (18-1) and follows the Cavaliers-Seminoles matchup. Both games will be televised on ESPN2. The championship is set for Monday at 5:30 p.m.
FSU officially played Duke to a tie in the Elite Eight but won in penalty kicks. That's the only "blemish" on the Seminoles' record. Virginia is one of only two teams to lose to FSU by just one goal this season -- 4-3 on Oct. 18. The other was UNC, 3-2, in the ACC tournament final.
Virginia is making its fourth appearance in the Final Four and third under coach Steve Swanson, who is in his 21st year leading the program. UVa made it in back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, the 'Hoos lost to the Seminoles in the final, 1-0. FSU also won the championship in 2018.
After the women's swimming team won the national championship for the first time in March, I commented to a friend that now, with that squad having won a title, the next UVa team due for a breakthrough is women's soccer, which has seemed close for many years. So now it has another chance to prove itself on the national stage.
For in-depth coverage of the women's soccer team, check out articles by my Hoos Place colleague Val.
Baseball: Since the last update, Virginia missed out on a good opportunity by blowing a ninth-inning lead and falling to VCU, 7-5, on May 4 in Charlottesville.
The Cavaliers entered the final frame up 5-3 and led 5-0 after six innings. It was the Rams' 12th straight win, and they are battling for an NCAA tournament berth just like the 'Hoos. A victory would have provided a nice boost for UVa. But the other side of the coin is VCU is a quality team, so it does not go down as a bad loss.
Virginia did get some good news this week, though. For the first time, at least one prognostication service projected the 'Hoos to be in the NCAA tournament field. Baseball America has UVa among its last four in as a No. 3 seed in the Knoxville, Tenn., Regional.
This weekend, Virginia hosts Wake Forest, and it finishes up the regular season by going on the road to Boston College. Both teams are bringing up the rear of the ACC Atlantic Division. The general feeling seems to be that in these final six regular-season games, it would be a good idea for the Wahoos to go at least 4-2 to help their chances of getting to the NCAA tournament. Anything less than 4-2, and a run at the ACC tournament (May 25-30 in Charlotte) could be necessary.
Men's tennis: UVa is in the Sweet 16 after NCAA tournament victories in Charlottesville against Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-0, and Stanford, 4-2. Next, the No. 5 Cavaliers (23-2) face No. 12 USC (22-6) on Monday at 1 p.m. in Orlando, as they look to get back to the national quarterfinals, where they bowed out in the last tournament in 2019 to Wake Forest.
Men's lacrosse: Virginia (10-4) earned the No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament and hosts Bryant (9-3) on Sunday at noon in the first round. The game will be televised on ESPNU. The winner faces the victor of the Syracuse-Georgetown matchup May 22 in Hempstead, N.Y. The Wahoos went 0-2 against the Orange this season and did not face the Hoyas.
Women's tennis: The ladies are also in the Sweet 16 after defeating LIU Brooklyn, 4-0, in the first round, and Tennessee, 4-2, in the second round, with both victories coming in Charlottesville. Next up, the No. 14 Cavaliers (16-6) face No. 3 Georgia (22-1) in Orlando on Sunday at 10 a.m.
Women's lacrosse: The 'Hoos are only 8-8, but they earned a berth to the NCAA tournament and battle Connecticut (12-6) in the first round in South Bend, Ind., on Friday at 5 p.m. The winner faces the victor of the Notre Dame-Robert Morris match Sunday at 1 p.m.
Men's golf: Virginia will participate in an NCAA regional for the 13th consecutive time, with the 'Hoos scheduled to tee off at the Kingston Springs, Tenn., Regional on Monday. UVa is the No. 6 seed in the 13-team regional. After three rounds, the top five teams advance to the NCAA championships, which are being held this year in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the Grayhawk Golf Club beginning May 28.
Women's golf: The Cavaliers' season ended Wednesday at the NCAA regional in Columbus, Ohio. Virginia placed ninth out of 18 schools and needed to finish in the top six to advance to the NCAA championships. But one Wahoo did qualify as an individual: Beth Lillie, after finishing in a tie for fifth. She will participate in the NCAA championships at Grayhawk from May 21-26.
Photo credit: Virginia Athletics
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