Soccer season is quickly approaching and the Virginia women’s soccer team will kickstart its season on Thursday, Aug. 18 against George Mason. That’s the first test on the Cavaliers’ 18-game schedule that features nine teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, including reigning NCAA Champion Florida State.

The Hoos get a chance to find their footing for that schedule with a heavy home slate early in the season.

The season opener is the first of eight straight non-conference games and all but one will be hosted in Klockner Stadium. After Mason and Loyola Maryland (Aug. 21) at home, the Hoos play the only non-conference away game at Georgetown (Aug. 25). Hosting again from there, the Cavaliers face Fairleigh Dickinson (Aug. 28), JMU (Sept. 1), Memphis (Sept. 4), Oregon State (Sept. 8), and VCU (Sept. 11) in the season’s first month.

That opening stretch sets the table for what will be a rigorous season the ACC. The conference schedule is not for the faint of heart as UVA is one of six ACC teams ranked in the United Soccer Coaches’ preseason top 25 poll.

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