Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech women's soccer team returns to Blacksburg this weekend for its final two home regular season non-conference matches of 2019. The No. 23 Hokies face Alabama on Thursday night, their third straight contest against a team from the SEC, before welcoming Yale to Thompson Field for a Sunday afternoon tilt, their first ever game against an Ivy League opponent.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Thursday, September 5 - 7 PM
Thompson Field, Blacksburg, Virginia
vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (3-1-0)
Head Coach: Wes Hart (5th season)
Record at school: 37-37-8; career: same
Series: Bama leads 1-0-0; Last: Aug. 30, 2018 (L, 1-0)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Broadcast: ACC Network Extra; Link: CLICK HERE
Alabama Preview/Game notes: Link
Sunday, September 8 - Noon
Thompson Field, Blacksburg, Virginia
vs. Yale Bulldogs (1-1-0)
Head Coach: Brendan Faherty (1st season, 4th overall)
Record at school: 1-1-0; career: 32-27-4
Series: First Meeting; Last: N/A
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Broadcast: ACC Network Extra; Link: CLICK HERE
Yale Preview/Game notes: Link (when available)
Top Notes for the Hokies (link to Game Notes pdf packet)
The Hokies started the season ranked, dropped out after Week 1, but are now back in
- Tech was one of seven ACC programs to be ranked in the United Soccer Coaches' Preseason Top 25 poll, the organization announced Aug. 6, checking in at No. 25 after ending the 2018 season ranked 21st.
- It was the first time since the end of the 2015 campaign Tech was ranked at the end of the year and it was the first time the Hokies opened a season ranked since 2016, when they started out at No. 17.
- After the first weekend of 2019, in which the Hokies outscored their opponents 5-0, recorded a 2-0 record with two shutouts, the United Soccer Coaches' poll saw Tech fall outside the top 25.
- The Week 2 poll has a record-tying eight ACC teams ranked, which includes the Hokies at No. 23.
- For three straight polls, TopDrawerSoccer, which tabbed the Hokies the No. 23 program in the nation at the end of the 2018 season, has had Tech listed as one of five programs in the "Others considered" category outside the Top 25. This week, the Hokies are settled in at No. 27.
Starting the season unbeaten after four matches and beyond
- For the ninth straight year and 13th overall, Tech is unbeaten after its first four matches, while a 4-0-0 start to the season has now been accomplished for the eighth time, but the first since 2016.
- Extending that to this weekend's matches, the Hokies are seeking their fifth 5-0-0 and 6-0-0 start in program history - the last teams to open the season with five straight wins (2014, 2012, 2011 and 1994) also won their sixth of the year as well.
- Seven times the program has been unbeaten after five matches - as the 2017, 2015 and 2013 squads were 4-0-1 after their fifth contest - and each of those teams won their sixth as well getting to 5-0-1.
The Hokies versus this weekend's opponents (see more Page 2 of Game Notes)
- Against Alabama, Tech was beaten in its only ever meeting versus the Crimson Tide, as an own goal was scored in the 16th minute of a 1-0 contest in Tuscaloosa, Alabama last year (Aug. 30).
- The defeat to Alabama marks the only loss in the month of August for the Hokies under head coach Chugger Adair. Including this season, in which they finished 3-0-0, the Hokies hold a 30-1-5 overall record under Adair in the month - 17-0-3 at home, 9-1-0 on the road and 4-0-2 at neutral sites.
- The Alabama match will mark the end of three straight against SEC opponents (defeated Georgia, 2-0, and Auburn, 3-1 last weekend) and all-time against current SEC foes, the Hokies are 10-6-2.
- The win at Georgia Friday was the first ever on the road (1-3-1) versus an SEC opponent, while the win over Auburn improved Tech to 6-2-0 in neutral site match-ups (see more Page 7).
- This will be the first ever meeting between the Hokies and the Yale Bulldogs. It also marks the first time Tech will face a member of the Ivy League.