CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Virginia Tech freshman goalkeeper Alia Skinner stopped a season-high nine Tar Heel shots in the Hokies' ACC contest at North Carolina, but a UNC goal in the 15th minute was all it needed to register the 1-0 decision at Dorrance Field on Sunday afternoon.
North Carolina (2-0, 2-0 ACC) took advantage of Tech's inability to clear a cross and Brianna Pinto took a pass from Sam Meza in close and chipped a ball just over Skinner for the only goal of the contest.
The Tar Heels continued to test Skinner and Tech's defense, holding advantages of 13-1 in corners and 19-3 in shots, but they could not break through for an insurance goal as Skinner made six saves in the second half. The one goal by UNC is the fewest for the team against Tech since the Hokies shut out No. 8 North Carolina 1-0 on October 23, 2011 in Blacksburg.
Tech (0-3, 0-2 ACC) had its best shot to tie the match in the 57th minute with an attack on goal. Mackenzie Graham slid a pass to Erin Carleton who then played a through ball to Emily Gray inside the 18. She took a touch and then tried to beat UNC goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, who made a diving save to her left to keep her team up one.
Additional Notes
- The Hokies have held UNC to one goal or fewer in only four all-time matches (21 meetings), including two shutouts in Blacksburg – the other was 1-0 win on October 4, 2009 versus No. 1 UNC.
- The only other time before today Tech held UNC to one goal (or fewer) on the road was in Chapel Hill on October 15, 2006 in a 1-0 loss.
- Alia Skinner's nine saves in the game is the most by a Tech freshman goalkeeper in a match since Dayle Colpitts stopped 11 shots in a 5-3 loss at No. 11 Texas A&M on Aug. 27, 2010.
- Emmalee McCarter has started the last 42 straight matches for the Hokies, the longest active streak on the team.
- For the second straight match, the Hokies started five freshmen in the match – goalkeeper Skinner, along with Taylor Bryan, Victoria Haugen, Tori Powell and Averi Visage – while Carleton and Ayden Yates came in as a sub. It was Yates' collegiate debut and the first time Tech played seven freshmen this season.
- The last time Tech started five freshmen in a match was versus Clemson on October 21, 2018 when current juniors Kiersten Hening, Karlie Johnson, Grace Sklopan, Gray and McCarter were all in the starting lineup, while a total of seven played in the game (Molly Feighan and Emma Steigerwald).
Coach's Comments
"I was very proud of the team today and the effort that they gave forth," head coach Chugger Adair said. "This was a difficult road trip for us, going on the road for multiple games, at Clemson and North Carolina. Always playing Carolina at their home is a difficult task. I think the team played well. They played together and eliminated some of the mistakes that we've made in the past couple of games, so that was good, because we're showing some growth and development. I was extremely pleased with the centerbacks, Victoria Haugen and Averi Visage and how they battled, as well as Emma Steigerwald, those in the back really worked hard and competed. I'm really proud of the group overall because I thought they did a good job of defending and playing together. I'd like to see us creating more chances going forward and that will be a focal point for us – how do we created chances in transition and going forward and create our own pressure on the opposition. So, we will need to get more out of our frontrunners to do that and overall from our team moving forward. We'll be coming home and this week preparing for our home opener against Virginia on Friday."
Up Next
The Hokies will return home and stay in Blacksburg for their next match – their home opener at Thompson Field against Virginia on Friday with kickoff set for 6 p.m.