BLACKSBURG – Returning to the national top 25 rankings for the first time since 2019, the No. 19 Virginia Tech women's soccer team will begin a three-match road stretch on Saturday, Oct. 2, when Tech takes on Pittsburgh at Ambrose Urbanic Field. Saturday's 7 p.m. match between the Hokies and the Panthers will air live on ACC Network Extra.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
• Back in the Top 25: Virginia Tech vaulted to No. 19 in the United Soccer Coaches top 25 poll after earning back-to-back ACC draws last week against No. 4 North Carolina (Sept. 23) and No. 2 Duke (Sept. 26). The Hokies – who are also ranked No. 18 in the NCAA Women's Soccer RPI – never trailed against their top-five opposition, handing the Tar Heels their first two-goal deficit in Chapel Hill since the 2013 season while fending off the Blue Devils at home after being reduced to 10 women. Tech pulls into Saturday's match at Pitt unbeaten during its last five outings (3-0-2) and is seeking its first four-match unbeaten start to ACC play since the 2009 campaign. Emily Gray and Nicole Kozlova co-lead the Hokies with seven goals apiece and will look to outperform the Panthers' Sarah Schupansky and Amanda West, who share the Pitt scoring lead with six goals each. Tech is also anchored by the ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, sophomore goalkeeper Alia Skinner, who saved 22 of the 25 shots she faced last week against UNC and Duke.
• Last Season Against Pitt: During its primarily all-ACC fall 2020 schedule, Virginia Tech downed No. 14 Pittsburgh, 2-0, at Thompson Field as the Hokies notched their first victory of the pandemic-affected season. Karlie Johnson (76th minute) and Tori Powell (89th) accounted for Tech's two goals that afternoon against the Panthers, receiving respective assists from Emily Gray and Emmalee McCarter. Alia Skinner made 12 saves to set her rookie season high, helping the Hokies overcome their 19-8 shot deficit to secure the win. With the victory, Virginia Tech won its third straight series meeting against Pitt, improving to 6-0-1 all-time against the Panthers (5-0-1 under head coach Chugger Adair).
• Front-runners: Strong starts have been crucial to Virginia Tech's success during the 2021 season. Tech has scored the match-opening goal during nine of its 11 contests this season and has remained unbeaten during matches containing such instances, turning in a 7-0-2 record. Considering the 1,030 minutes that have been logged by the Hokies this fall, Tech has played with a lead for 47.4 percent of its 2021 season while trailing for only 11.5 percent of its total match time. The Hokies have also yet to face a scoreboard deficit during their ACC schedule.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will continue its three-match ACC away stretch on Thursday, Oct. 7, when the Hokies travel to Clemson. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.
