Hokie ClubATHENS, Ga. – For just the second time in school history, the Virginia Tech women's soccer program opened a season with three straight shutouts, as the Hokies blanked Georgia, 2-0, on Friday night in nonconference action at Turner Soccer Complex.
In the nightcap of the first day of the Bulldog Classic, the Hokies and Georgia battled back-and-forth until Tech broke through on the scoreboard in the 36th minute. Lilly Weber scored on a volley from about six yards out off a cross from Jaylyn Thompson.
For Weber, it was her first of the year, the third of her career, which then held on for her first collegiate game winner. Thompson recorded her first collegiate point on the assist.
With just 20 seconds left before the half, the Hokies were awarded a free kick from about 40 yards out. Kelsey Irwin launched the ball into the box and Bridget Patch, falling away from the goal, headed the ball past a diving Emory Wegener for the insurance goal.
Patch netted her first of the year, as well, and the fourth of her career, while Irwin notched her team-high tying second assist, the sixth of her career and her 17th career point as a Hokie.
Tech goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn made five saves in the match as she picked up her 32nd win as a Hokie and notched the 25th career shutout at the school. Those numbers are both second all-time at the school.
The Jacksonville, native also became the first Tech goalkeeper to record three straight shutouts to start a season. She also improved her record to 32-0-2 when the Hokies give her a lead at any point in a match.
The last time Tech started a season with three straight shutouts was 2014. However, in that third game, Hokie goalkeepers Caroline Kelly and Kaylyn Smith each played 45 minutes.
Quick Notes:
- The Hokies start the season 3-0-0 for just the 10th time in its 27-year history.
- Tech is now 2-0-1 all-time against the Bulldogs, while holding them scoreless in all three matches (290 minutes – all by McGlynn).
- The Hokies improved to 9-6-2 against current SEC teams, but won its first road match against an SEC foe (1-3-1).
- Tech is now 43-9-8 all-time in the month of August and 31-1-5 under head coach Chugger Adair (ninth season). They are 59-4-6 all-time under Adair in nonconference regular-season matches.
- The Hokies are 2-2-2 on this date, August 30, but win for the first time since 2009.
- Thompson has now started 53 straight matches, McGlynn 44 straight and Irwin 37.
- McGlynn has played 3,776:43 straight minutes since the last time she was substituted (Aug. 25, 2017, 40 straight matches).
- Tech has six players who have scored a goal already this season (seven goals total), while seven players have tallied at least one assist.
From Coach Adair:
"I'm very pleased with the group's effort tonight. I think for both halves, all 90 minutes, we played solid and the effort was there. I'm very pleased with our first-half performance as far as possession, quality on the ball and the ability to break down Georgia and impact the game. We had a lot of chances in the first half, but I was a little bit disappointed in the second half. We came out a little bit flat as they tried to press us and push the game a little bit. The girls worked hard, fought and battled for the result tonight. They deserved it. I'm looking forward to another difficult match on the road on Sunday against Auburn. So, we're going to recover and get ready for Sunday."
Up Next:
Tech (3-0-0) will stay in Athens for two more days and will conclude the Bulldog Classic with a match against Auburn (1-1-0) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.