A must-see game for every Virginia fall sports team – The Cavalier Daily

With the 2024-25 academic year in full swing, Virginia's fall sports teams are preparing for the road ahead. Some have already begun play, while others can't wait to make their season debut.

But they all have one thing in common: highly anticipated contests on packed schedules. From rivalries to ranking battles to potential upsets, this fall is sure to provide plenty of entertainment—here's a game to look forward to from each fall sports team.

Football – October 26 vs. North Carolina

Amid another disappointing season for Virginia football in 2023, the climax of the season took place in hostile territory on the road against the then-10th-ranked Tar Heels. The Cavaliers have a more lenient schedule in 2024 than last year — their game against North Carolina in 2023 came several weeks after a season opener against SEC heavyweight Tennessee and just before road games against Miami and Louisville. This year's edition will be played in Charlottesville in the middle of Virginia's toughest stretch — right after a road game against Clemson and before a two-game road trip against Pitt and Notre Dame.

The Tar Heels pose a much easier challenge than last season – North Carolina has lost several key players, including its starting quarterback Drake Maye, to the NFL. Virginia will not be considered a favorite in this game, but given the nature of the Cavaliers' schedule at the end of the game and their success in 2023, this is perhaps the most likely upset opportunity for an underdog Virginia team. projected for completion in the basement of the ACC.

Men’s Soccer – October 19 vs. No. 7 Syracuse

Two consecutive seasons of high expectations were marked by two disheartening early exits for Virginia men's soccer. Another constant between those two seasons were losses to Syracuse in the ACC Tournament by the closest of scores, with both games decided by penalty kicks.

Success in the ACC Tournament doesn't necessarily guarantee success on the national stage, but for the Cavaliers, the first step to returning to national prominence could be avenging old losses and banishing bad karma from 2022 and 2023. The No. 7 Orange poses a major obstacle to relevance, as their Oct. 19 meeting with Virginia in Charlottesville is the Cavaliers' second-to-last ACC game of the regular season. Virginia will bring plenty of motivation to this contest, with both revenge and postseason implications at stake.

Women’s soccer – September 27 at No. 5 North Carolina

Virginia's women's soccer team may have just missed made the postseason last year for the first time this century, but the program is keeping expectations high. The United Soccer Coaches Poll agrees, ranking the Cavaliers 21st in the country despite last season's pitfalls.

Of Virginia's numerous top-10 matchups, the road game against No. 5 North Carolina is the most important. The Cavaliers lost 1-0 at home to the Tar Heels last season, so this year's game in Chapel Hill, NC, should be a good indicator of the team's improvement — or decline — since then.

Field Hockey – Sept. 13 at Maryland

Fresh from a run to the Final Four in last year’s NCAA tournament, The No. 3 Virginia field hockey team has a challenging schedule to begin the season. The Cavaliers are no stranger to early-season challenges – last season they faced eight top-25 teams in September alone. This year, their toughest early-season challenge will come in mid-September against Maryland.

The Terrapins handed Virginia the second of back-to-back losses last year, in Charlottesville. Virginia faces a tougher task this season in College Park, Maryland, but a road win against a former ACC opponent would help the Cavaliers prepare for a tough conference schedule.

Volleyball – November 14th at Stanford

On three occasions against higher-ranked opponents in 2023, Virginia Volleyball won just two sets and lost every matchup. Such was life during another mediocre season for the Cavaliers, who showed potential during their non-conference schedule but collapsed as the season progressed.

No. 5 Stanford poses a particularly big threat considering both their volleyball pedigree and the physical demands placed on East Coast athletes traveling to the West Coast for a game. For the Cavaliers, it will be another opportunity to welcome their new conference opponents with a major road upset.

Men’s Golf – October 18-20, Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate vs. Georgia Tech

Virginia's only ACC matchup during the regular season will be in Alpharetta, Georgia, in late October. After losing to Auburn – the eventual national champion – in last season's NCAA quarterfinals, the Cavaliers will need to perform strongly in the regular season before they hope to make the postseason again. A tournament in prime golf against an ACC opponent sets the stage for a wonderful weekend of golf with major implications for the rest of Virginia's season.

Women’s Golf – September 4-6, Pan-Pacific UGSL Tournament

Virginia's women's golf team will travel overseas in early September and open the season with a scenic tournament in Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan, near Mount Fuji. It doesn't get much more unique than that – a win in the shadow of one of the world's most recognizable peaks would undoubtedly be a great start to the season for the Cavaliers, who will play college opponents from Japan and South Korea in the event.

Cross Country – September 14, Virginia Invitational

The goal is always to win on home soil, and in 2024 Virginia Cross Country will have two opportunities to do that. First, the Cavaliers host the Virginia Invitational in mid-September – the men's team finished seventh and the women's team third last year, so coach Vin Lananna and Co. still have room to improve. Then comes the Panorama Farms Invitational in mid-October, also in Charlottesville, and with the Cross Country Championships coming up shortly after in November, a strong showing would set the stage for a successful postseason.