Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG — After concluding its fall season with a 5-8-0 overall record, the Virginia Tech women's soccer team is set to open up its Spring slate when the Hokies travel to Charlotte for Sunday's 5 p.m. nonconference tilt with the 49ers at Transamerica Field.
The match will be Tech's first since falling to No. 1 seed North Carolina, 1-0, in the 2020 ACC Women's Soccer Championship quarterfinals on Nov. 10. It's the first of four scheduled Spring fixtures over the next month and change.
Charlotte enters Sunday at 1-2 through its first three matches. The 49ers, who were slotted second in the East Division of Conference USA, defeated Old Dominion, 3-1, in its last time out (Feb. 26). Preseason All-Conference USA selection Julia Patrum scored a pair of goals in Charlotte's league-opening win.
The Hokies and the 49ers will meet for just the seventh time in series history, and first since a 2-0 Tech win on Sept. 6, 2013 at Thompson Field. Charlotte leads the all-time series, 3-2-1.
Tech freshman Tori Powell leads the Hokies into their spring season with a team-high five goals. She also added two assists for a total of 12 points – second-best on the team behind Emily Gray.
Gray, who entered the year with a nation-best eight assists, has tallied 14 points for Tech and has taken a team-high 27 shots.
For their strong play in the fall, Gray (Third Team All-ACC) and Powell (All-Freshman Team) were recognized by the league's 14 head coaches.
Freshman Alia Skinner has done a commendable job in goal for the Hokies. In her first year in Blacksburg, the Fleming Island, Florida, native ranks eighth in goals against average (1.427), third in save percentage (.800) and second in saves per game (5.67).
With no broadcast available for the match, live stats can be accessed here.