UVA - 2026

I figured I’d hop on the train and start a UVA 2026 thread as others already have for their teams. The obvious question for this season will be how does Virginia handle the departures of Lia Godfrey,
Maggie Cagle, and Laney Rouse, the dynamic-trio headed to the pros this offseason. Highly-coveted transfer forwards Gio Canali (Miami) and Reese Mattern (Tennessee) will look to remedy this, and will likely enter the starting lineup immediately for the Cavs. Canali will have 3 years of eligibility while Mattern returns to her hometown of Charlottesville with 2 years of eligibility remaining. Also joining the Hoos for 2026 is fifth-year CB Faith Broering (Cincinnati), who will likely see substitute minutes on the backline.

Virginia will be relying more heavily on youth than experience in 2026 after losing 9 players to
graduation. They will need to look to their rising sophomore class, who will now have a year of
experience in the gauntlet that is the ACC. I’m very interested in seeing the sophomore progression of Liv Rademaker, Pearl Cecil, Addison Halpern, Carrie Helfrich, and Jordyn Hardeman.

The Dutch freshman Rademaker is speedy on the touchline from her left back position, connecting well with the midfield and front line. She was banged up a bit (and suffered an illness) during the last several weeks of the season, so I’m excited to see her fully healthy and with a year of NCAA soccer under her belt. With the departure of Laney Rouse, Rademaker will likely get pushed to right back with Tatum Galvin slotting in at left back.

US U17 captain Cecil played on all three lines for the Hoos in 2025, albeit in limited appearances due to U17 WWC duties. She was primarily utilized as a target forward after her return from international duty. Cecil plays CB for the youth teams, so it will be interesting what position she ends up at in 2026. She may be heading to the backline with the graduation of CB Kiki Maki. Cecil probably has the highest soccer IQ on the squad.

Halpern was brilliant in flashes for Virginia, but too often faded for long stretches in games. She appeared a bit more comfortable in the midfield where she could get more touches on the ball, as opposed to the 9. She’ll likely be the starting attacking midfielder with the departure of Godfrey, giving her more space to roam in the attacking half. Halpern can strike the ball with her right foot harder than any player I’ve seen at UVA in many years.

Carrie Helfrich was a pleasant surprise for UVA, being utilized as a winger, striker, and eventually wingback for Steve Swanson. Her position on the field will likely depend on whether Virginia plays with 4 at the back or 3 in 2026. There will be minutes on the wing available, and Helfrich could be the one to take them.

#4 Recruit Jordyn Hardeman, playing primarily as a defensive midfielder, faced a crowded midfieldin 2025. Her playing time varied wildly throughout the season. She looked good as a single 6 or double pivot alongside Flammia or Ella Carter, capable of sending a great ball to the wing or shooting a rocket from distance (although she unfortunately has not scored on one, yet). Hardeman also has extensive experience at CB at the club and youth international levels, and she could return there in the fall.

Virginia was very solid in goal last season. Viki Safradin took a massive step forward in 2025, posting her best save and shutout percentages as well as the lowest GAA of her career. She will hopefully look to save the best for last in her senior season. Safradin's footwork has gotten much better, as has her decision making during games (that howler vs Stanford in the ACC tournament notwithstanding). Safradin’s presence in goal will be reassuring to a backline that is losing two veterans as well as the first experienced defender off the bench in Maya Carter.
Second year Wicki Dunlap appears to be heading into the season as GK 2, poised to be the eventual
successor to Safradin (barring a transfer out in the new age of the portal). She has extensive youth
international experience and has played well in the NC Courage’s youth academy. Dunlap will likely see some minutes against the schedule’s weaker opponents. [Can I just say how funny it is that Virginia has a Viki and Wicki in the GK Union]

UVA faces by far more questions on offense than defense heading into 2026, where they are graduating the vast majority of their goals scored this past season. The Cavaliers’ success in 2026 will likely hinge on how quickly and effectively players can step in to fill the void left by Virginia’s key departures.

Possible UVA 2026 Lineup
Barring injuries, unexpected departures

 

I think Laney Rouse will definitely push Ellie Wheeler for some minutes at RB with the Current. Rouse can also play at LB, which will provide even more opportunities for her to get playing time.
Lia Godfrey is quick in bursts off the ball but almost even faster while on it. I could weirdly see her either at the 10, or pulling a Savannah McCaskill and being the attacking midfielder in college that transitions to the 6 in the pros. I’m not sure if she has the endurance for a box to box 8 at the next level, but I certainly could be wrong. San Diego’s starting midfield didn’t miss many minutes last season, so I would expect Godfrey to be a late game sub unless she’s really impressing the coaching staff.
For me, Maggie Cagle probably needs to get some reps in Europe or in the USL Super League before making a run in the NWSL. I would love to see her get some game time as a wide midfielder to show off her skill set and become more comfortable with the pace of the game at the pro level. I could see the college-to-pro transition being much more difficult if she jumps straight into the most challenging pro league in the world.

 

That’s exactly what I had in mind too. I wonder if they already had that trade in mind/it was already in the works when they decided to sign Godfrey.

 

Maggie Cagle has signed with Vittsjö in Sweden’s top division on a 1-year deal. I think the Swedish league could be a perfect fit for Cagle’s development. ⚔️

 

I see the Swedish league as a good intermediary between ACC soccer and the NWSL as far as the level of play. IMO the Swedish league plays a style of soccer that is the most similar to the NWSL/American style compared to any other league in Europe. She’ll have more opportunities to challenge players for actual starting minutes immediately compared to likely sitting on the bench in the NWSL. Several college players from the US have cut their teeth in Sweden after graduation over the last decade or two.

 

Awesome stuff! Can I ask where you’re finding these dates at? Would like to see UVA fill those TBD non-con games with some quality power conference opponents. FSU would be a great option if the Hoos and the Noles won’t be meeting in the regular season.

 

She's heading to training camp with the 🇺🇸

Addison Halpern will be with the U20 squad for camp at the end of the month.#GoHoos | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/Mn3g3GlA44

— Virginia Women's Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) February 17, 2026

She got the call again!

Pearl Cecil is heading to Portugal with the 🇺🇸 U19 Team.#GoHoos | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/4DYdJRhT1d

— Virginia Women's Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) February 17, 2026

Addy Halpern and Pearl Cecil are heading out on international duty, joining the U-20 and U-19 WNT’s, respectively.

 

In addition to the aforementioned transfers (Canali, Mattern, and Broering), UVA is welcoming 2 early enrollee freshmen for the spring semester: defender Mackenzie Mize and midfielder/forward Kyndal Shuler. Both early enrollee freshmen are Top Drawer Soccer top 100 recruits, with numerous youth accolades to their names.

She got the call to head to Spain with the 🇺🇸!

Kyndal Shuler will join the U18 WYNT for upcoming training camp.#GoHoos | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/DwICAzjT8J

— Virginia Women's Soccer (@UVAWomenSoccer) February 20, 2026

Kyndal Shuler becomes the third Cavalier to be selected for international duty this window, joining the U-18 WNT.

 

I think the midfield will need reinforcements for the 2026 season. The midfield has been a bit of a revolving door for UVA over the last 3 seasons due to injuries to various players. Last year, Ella Carter solidified herself as the starting defensive mid, while I anticipate Addison Halpern to be the starting attacking midfielder following the departure of Godfrey. If Swanson continues with his preferred 4-3-3 formation, I think that the third midfielder is basically up for grabs, whether that’s from a returning player or a newcomer. The Cavaliers will look for a player that is able to help in the buildup of the attack, and able to connect the lines effectively. As good as Virginia was last year, I believe they lacked a true connector in midfield who could link the defense to the attack and control the pace of the game, IMO. In 2025, Virginia’s midfield production was almost exclusively reliant on Lia Godfrey, with the rest of the midfield’s goals and assists coming few and far between. Production in the midfield will have to come from various players, without the over-reliance on any individual player.