GREENSBORO, N.C. – After scoring twice on Saturday to lift the No. 19 Virginia Tech women's soccer team to victory at Pittsburgh, senior midfielder Emily Gray has been named the ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday.
Gray accounted for Tech's two goals during its 2-1 win against the Panthers, helping the Hokies maintain their ACC-unbeaten record (2-0-2) inside their six-match unbeaten streak. The veteran attacker charted her sixth career multi-goal performance, moving into sole possession of second place at Virginia Tech behind the program's all-time leading goal scorer, Murielle Tiernan (nine).
Having tallied seven goals during Tech's non-conference schedule, Gray came through with her first ACC goal of the season less than 15 minutes into its match at Pitt. In routine fashion from 10 yards away, she one-timed the backward pass she received from senior teammate Nicole Kozlova under the crossbar, staking the Hokies out to the early, 1-0 lead on the road.
With Tech looking to break its 1-1 tie with the Panthers late in regulation, Gray created the midfield space that led to her netting the night's match-winner. Staying onside during the 83rd minute, she timed her run to meet Tori Powell's through ball in the center of the box, using one left-footed touch to win her one-on-one showdown with Pitt's keeper.
Upon earning her first ACC brace since her sophomore season (Sept. 2019), Gray took over the conference's scoring lead (22 points) while moving into a tie for the 11th most goals scored among NCAA Division I players (nine). She also moved into a tie for the eighth most goals scored on Virginia Tech's all-time leaderboard (24) alongside Alani Johnson and Emily Barnhart.
On top of garnering ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time during her career (Oct. 2020), Gray was also named to Monday's College Soccer News Women's National Team of the Week. She became Tech's second player to share in ACC and College Soccer News weekly praise this season during as many weeks, joining the Hokies' goalkeeper, Alia Skinner (Sept. 27-28).
Gray and No. 17 Virginia Tech (8-2-2, 2-0-2 ACC) will return to the pitch on Thursday, Oct. 7, when the Hokies travel to Clemson for an 8 p.m. match airing on ACC Network.
