Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – This season, the Virginia Tech women's soccer program unveiled its 2020 signing class in a different way. Rather than announcing all of them and their accomplishments in one release, the Hokies highlighted each new signee individually, which includes a brief "Get to Know" Q&A, until all of the incoming freshmen were announced.
After a break for the holiday, the team had two more players to introduce and the Hokies conclude their revealing with their last announced player. Virginia native Riley McCarthy is a 5-foot-4 outside back from Clifton. She attends James W. Robinson Secondary School and is considering majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management when she arrives at Tech.
McCarthy earned a pair of varsity letters under coach Leigh Anne Baxter at Robinson Secondary School playing as an outside defender. In 2019, the team made the district finals, while McCarthy was named first team all-district, all-region, all-state and all-Met, while she was a second team all-district selection as a freshman. She has scored five goals and has 11 assists in her career.
Club and ODP experience for McCarthy includes eight years playing for John Kenny with BRYC, two years with Tom Torres and the Washington Spirit VA GDA and she is currently with FC Virginia DA under coaches Christian Cziommer and Bobby Puppione. With BRYC, the team was a 2016 USYSA national finalist, won the Region 1 Championship, were regional champions and were ranked No. 1 in the country before finishing the year at No. 2. They also were two-time Virginia State Cup Champions (2016 and 2017). With the Spirit, the team qualified for nationals in 2018.
"Riley is a defender who can play multiple spots, and will play central or wide right," Tech head coach Chugger Adair said. "We'll be looking for her to come in and compete for one of those outside back spots, most likely the right.
"We like her ability to get forward, how she can get up and down the side and be a good 1v1 defender. She's also just very capable of playing out from the back. She's got some versatility and some experience on that backline and we're looking forward to her coming in and adding to our group and our culture as well."
GET TO KNOW - Riley
Name: Riley McCarthy
Position: Defender
Height: 5-foot-4
Hometown: Clifton, Virginia
High School: Robinson Secondary School
Other Schools considered: James Madison, George Mason, New Hampshire, College of Charleston
Why did you choose Tech? I really liked the campus and the facilities at VT. I also liked the style of play along with the coaching staff!
What was your favorite thing about your visit? My favorite thing about the visit was getting to bond with all the other commits and going to watch the football game in Lane Stadium.
What do you like about the Tech soccer program? I like the commitment each player has to the team and the bond they have. You can tell they all really enjoy playing for this team.
What are your soccer strengths? As an outside back, I have strengths in joining the attack to create more numbers in the play.
Who is your favorite pro player (why)? My favorite player is Kelley O'Hara (current US Women's National Player). I love her skills to attack out of the defense and she is a dangerous player in the attack.
What is your most memorable soccer moment (why)? Before high school, my team went to Texas for nationals. We had won the state cup and regionals to qualify for this tournament. This was so memorable because we never expected to make it that far and we became the national finalists. It was so much fun spending time traveling with my team and playing against some of the best competition in the country.
What do you think you will major in? I want to major in Hospitality and Tourism Management. I want to be an event planner or coordinator after college and this major suits those careers.
What's one thing you'd want Tech fans to know about you? I am the youngest of three girls and I love French bulldogs. I also like spending time on a lake or at the beach!
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