Hokies falter versus No. 2 Florida State

BLACKSBURG – For almost 70 minutes, the Virginia Tech women's soccer team kept No. 2 Florida State in check, however, in a span of 14 minutes, the Seminoles scored three times and registered a 4-0 decision over the Hokies on Thursday night in ACC action at Thompson Field.
 
Florida State (3-0, 3-0 ACC) got goals from Jaelin Howell, a header off a corner in the 70th minute, Ran Iwai, a rebounded shot off the post in the 76th minute, and Jody Brown, off a turnover in the 83rd minute, to put the game away after leading just 1-0 through 69 minutes (off an own goal).
 
Tech (0-5, 0-3 ACC) limiting Florida State's scoring attack in the first half, as the Seminoles had just two shots and two corners, but got a big boost heading into the locker rooms after a Tech own goal in the 44th minute. The Seminoles took control of the match in the second half, with 15 shots and four corners, and scoring two off of them.

The Hokies had a couple of chances in the first half to take the lead, including a cross by Emma Steigerwald that couldn't be finished (hit of a defender and stopped by the goalkeeper) and an Emily Gray free kick from 20 yards out, but the shot hit the wall and was cleared away.
 
Additional Notes

• Making their first career starts for Tech were goalkeeper S.A. Phillips and Caroline Cipolla, while Sydney Ash, Calista Heister and Karlie Johnson started for the first time this year.
• Hokies Alexa Anderson, Allyson Brown, Ava Veith and Ash all saw their first action of the season.
• Emmalee McCarter has started the last 44 straight matches for the Hokies, the longest active streak on the team.
• Grace Sklopan is Tech's lone Hokie to play every single minute of the 2020 season (454 straight minutes).
• Since a 2-0 loss at No. 17 Duke on Oct. 2, 2018, Tech is 16-1-2 versus teams not named Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia, while the Hokies are a combined 0-13 in matchups against them.

Up Next
The Hokies are back in action Sunday at 3 p.m. when they welcome No. 14 Pittsburgh to Thompson Field, Tech's sixth straight ranked opponent.Gallery: (10-1-2020) 2020 WOMEN'S SOCCER VS. FLORIDA STATE