UVa faces N.C. State in ACC opener

Trying to figure out the starting lineup for the Virginia women’s soccer team this season has been a little like attempting to guess which contestant on “The Biggest Loser” is going to lose the most weight.
Really, you have no idea.
Virginia coach Steve Swanson has used seven different starting lineups through the team’s first eight games.
“We’ve got a lot of new faces and have been looking at a lot of new things,” Swanson explained. “I’ve been trying to give people chances, but without risking losing the continuity of what we’re trying to do…
“I think I’ve been learning more and more as we go. I think now that we’re into ACC’s, we’ll try and make it a little more consistent.”
Tonight, Virginia opens its ACC slate on the road at N.C. State. UVa (5-1-2) is riding a seven-game unbeaten streak. The No. 14 Cavaliers, who haven’t lost since the season opener at Penn State, are coming off a 2-0 win over American on Sunday.
“I think we’re definitely ready,” said Virginia sophomore Meghan Lenczyk. “These pre-conference games have really prepared us for what is coming in the ACC. Hopefully we can come out and do well.”
So far, the lack of a consistent starting lineup hasn’t seemed to affect Virginia much.
“We have so much depth on our team,” Lenczyk said. “It is hard to play with different people, but it’s not like the level drops when a new player starts.”
The unranked Wolfpack (5-2-1) are coming off a 1-0 loss to Charlotte on Sunday. Virginia has won the last 14 meetings with State (dating back to 1995), and has won its last six ACC season openers.
“It’s always tough to play anybody in our conference,” warned Swanson, whose team returns home for a matinee against Clemson and former UVa assistant Hershey Strosberg on Sunday, “but particularly on the road. We’re looking forward to it. I think we’ll have to be ready to play.”