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Through more than a month of action for Virginia athletics, a number of Knight teams have excelled and earned high rankings, while others have shown promise.

After an unbeaten start and an incredible win on the road against the No. 2 North Carolina, the women’s soccer team suffered its first loss last week and will have to bounce back to meet the high expectations many have set for the team. On the men’s side, the soccer team has flashed flashes of brilliance, including a road win against No. 3 Syracuse on Saturday. Meanwhile, the men’s golf team earned a No. 1 ranking for the first time in program history and is in prime position to make a run at a national championship in the spring.

As these teams look to take the next step, members of our sports staff discuss the implications of these developments for each of these three teams going forward.

How can women’s football respond to the first defeat of the season?

Harry Farley: Losing to a talented Notre Dame team on the road can be framed in a positive light. At 9-1-1 so far this season, Virginia has been nearly unbeatable. While the loss is disappointing, it will serve as a reminder to the Cavaliers that they are not invincible. Virginia will need to have that feeling after losing at the forefront of their minds. With seven games left in all against high-caliber ACC teams, the Cavaliers are certainly good enough to win.

Brandon Brown: There is no need to panic in Coach Steve Swanson’s camp. Losing to ACC foe No. 18 Notre Dame by one goal isn’t the end of the world. Missed chances and inconsistent defense led to the Hoos’ first loss of the season. Although it is likely to fall from No. 2 in the NCAA rankings, Virginia just needs to keep improving. The team has momentum and chemistry that I predict will translate into the postseason.

Taylor West:  At the end of the day, it’s always going to be a challenge, no matter how good a team is, to go on the road and beat a top-25 team in the ACC. In the Notre Dame game, it was the factor that they could not throw shots on goal with Notre Dame having eight to one of the Knights. Further forward, the Cavaliers must put more pressure on the opposing defenses, as in the last three encounters they are averaging two shots on goal per game.

Is the win against No. 3 Syracuse a turning point for men’s soccer?

Harry: In short, hopefully. The win will certainly be a big morale booster for the team, but there is still a daunting ACC schedule, including road games at Pittsburgh, Clemson and North Carolina. The key for the Cavaliers will be consistency on offense. Junior forward Leo Afonso, who scored the game-winner against the Orange, must continue his high level of offensive production if Virginia is to contend for an ACC title.

Aidan Baller: The win against No. 3 Syracuse shows the capabilities of this roster when they play at their best. Coming off a win against a top-ranked team, this roster knows its capabilities, which should allow them to produce better results against other ACC teams down the stretch. Syracuse was the biggest test of Virginia’s regular season, so if they continue to play at that level, it can definitely turn this season into something special.

Taylor: This win is absolutely huge for Virginia as they looked to be heading in the direction of a third straight season of mediocrity. It will all be about how the team will be able to build off of this win and keep this momentum going throughout the rest of the year in ACC play. The Cavaliers will have a chance to do just that Friday at No. 10 Pittsburgh.

Men’s golf is ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history – can it win a national championship in the spring?

Harry: Sure. In its first tournament of the fall at the Streamsong Invitational, the team shot a school record 56-under en route to winning the championship. Freshman Ben James, who may be the best individual golfer Virginia has had, has inspired belief in a national championship. He won the Streamsong Invitational individually, shooting 20 under, and is ranked as the second best individual player in the most recent Golfweek poll.

Aidan: For starters, Virginia wins National Championships — winning at least two in each of the last two years overall. The athletes at this school perform at the highest level in the crucial moments – something I see on this golf team. James has been phenomenal this fall and has shown that he is definitely capable of leading this team to a National Championship. In addition, senior Pietro Bovari was only five strokes behind James, showing that he has the ability to play with the best as well.

Brandon: The Virginia men’s golf team recently became the 13th sport in Virginia athletics history to reach the No. 1 ranking. The team boasts three players in the Golfweek’s top 70 college golfers, including No. 2 James, who opened the season with a school-record 20-under 196 at the Streamsong Invitational in Bowling Green, Fla. If the team continues to do as well as it is now, it has a good opportunity to join the list of Virginia teams to win a championship.

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