BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech women's soccer team heads out on the road for its last non-conference road swing of 2019, traveling to Wilmington, N.C. this weekend to take part in the Battle by the Beach hosted by UNCW. The Hokies (6-0-0) will tangle with the College of Charleston on Friday night (5 p.m.) before taking on the home team on Sunday (1:30 p.m.).
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Friday, September 13 - 5 PM
UNCW Soccer Stadium, Wilmington, N.C.
vs. College of Charleston Cougars (2-2-0)
Head Coach: Christian Michner (10th season)
Record at school: 77-90-11; career: same
Series: Tech leads 4-0-0; Last: Aug. 25, 2017 (W, 4-0)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Broadcast: None
Sunday, September 15 - 1:30 PM
UNCW Soccer Stadium, Wilmington, N.C.
at UNCW Seahawks (3-2-0)
Head Coach: Chris Neal (1st season, 11th overall)
Record at school: 3-2-0; career: 93-78-31
Series: Tech leads 3-0-0; Last: Aug. 24, 2018 (W, 2-1)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Broadcast: FloLive ($$$); Link: CLICK HERE
Top Notes for the Hokies (link to Game Notes pdf packet)
The Hokies jump seven spots in latest rankings
- 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.
- With two more wins last weekend, the Hokies, along with the TCU Horned Frogs, made the biggest jumps in the latest rankings, as each team moved up seven spots. Tech rises to the No. 16 position this week, while TCU, who is 5-1-0, is right behind the Hokies at No. 17.
- The spot in the polls is the highest ranking for the Hokies since Sept. 1, 2016.
- Tech also earned a spot, for the first time, in the TopDrawerSoccer national poll. For three straight weeks, the Hokies, who TDS named the No. 23 program in the nation at the end of the 2018 season, was listed as one of five programs in the "Others considered" category outside the Top 25.
- This week, the Hokies are settled in at No. 20.
Starting the season unbeaten after six matches and beyond
- For the ninth straight year and 13th overall, Tech was unbeaten after its first four matches, while a 4-0-0 start to the season had been accomplished for the eighth time, but the first since 2016.
- After pulling out two wins last weekend, the 2019 Hokies became just the fifth team to start the year at 6-0-0, while eight times overall a team has been unbeaten after six matches.
- Only the 2012 and 2014 seasons did Tech start with seven straight wins, with the 2012 squad opening up 9-0-0 and 2014 started a school-best 10-0-0.
- In 2017, Tech started 6-0-1 after seven, but lost match eight, while in 2015, the team opened 8-0-1.
The Hokies versus this weekend's opponents (see more Page 2)
- All-time, Tech is 7-0-0 against this weekend's opponents, outscoring them 17-1.
- The Hokies last faced the Cougars in 2017, while the Seahawks where in Blacksburg last year.
- This weekend will be the first time the Hokies will play a match in Wilmington, N.C.
Kozlova earns ACC Offensive Player of the Week award
- Announced by the ACC Tuesday, Tech's Nicole Kozlova was chosen as the ACC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after helping the Hokies remain perfect on the season.
- She is the first Tech field player to earn an ACC Player of the Week honor since Murielle Tiernan, who earned the last of her three on Sept. 6, 2016.
- Kozlova is the third Tech freshman to garner the award since the Hokies joined the ACC. Ashley Stinson was the first, being named on Sept. 4, 2004, while Marika Gray was chosen on Sept. 10, 2007.