RENO, Nev. - Nevada soccer's new era under head coach Vanessa Valentine begins in Virginia starting Thursday. 

The Pack will face No. 5 Virginia in Charlottesville Thursday at 4 p.m. and go up against Richmond Sunday at 10 a.m. 

Nevada is under new leadership in 2023 and has nine starters back from the previous season and has 21 letterwinners from 2022 overall. The Pack also added 10 newcomers (3 transfers and 7 freshmen).

The Pack will play its first five matches on the road before its home opener on Sept. 3 against UC Riverside. Nevada will travel to three states and five different cities that total 4,052 miles in their first five matches. Nevada will open its season on the road for the fourth consecutive season.

Junior forward Emily Rich continues to make her mark in Nevada women's soccer history. Rich, a two-time All-Mountain West honoree, became the first player in program history to register three assists in a single match when she accomplished that mark on Sept. 4, 2022. She is currently tied for eighth in program history in career assists, needing just one more to move in a tie for seventh.

Fifth year defender Gabby Brown has been one of the most prolific shot takers in Nevada soccer history. She set the program record for most shots in a season in 2019 with 75 as a freshman. Brown is currently fifth in career shots with 129.

Thursday's match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra while Sunday's match is available to watch on ESPN+. Both networks require a subscription to watch. 

Scouting Virginia
One of the top programs in women's college soccer, No. 5 Virginia made the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2022. Virginia, a four-time College Cup participant, was the National Runner-Up in 2014. The Cavaliers dominated play last season, scoring 56 goals while only allowing 17 en route to a 16-4-3 record.

Scouting Richmond
Richmond will also begin a new chapter of its soccer program under new head coach Adam Denton. The Spiders finished last season winning or tying three out of their final five matches. Goalkeeper Taylor Montague is back in the net for the Spiders, accumulating 77 saves with a .778 save percentage last season. 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Nevada soccer begins a new era under first-year head coach Vanessa Valentine. Season tickets start at just $25 for youth and $45 for adults. Every season ticket holder will receive an exclusive season ticket-holder gift while supplies last. Click here to purchase or for more information. 

FOLLOW THE PACK
Follow Nevada Women's Soccer on social media at @NevadaWSOC (X), @nevadawsoc (Instagram), and on Facebook at @NevadaWSOC