BLACKSBURG – Just over a week ago, the Virginia Tech women's soccer team ended its fall campaign with a 1-0 loss to then, top-ranked North Carolina in a quarterfinal matchup at the 2020 ACC Championship at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina marking the Hokies' eighth appearance all-time in the tournament.
This week, Tech head coach Chugger Adair answered several questions regarding the 2020 fall campaign and the first part of the recap, more team focused, was released Tuesday (click here to view). In today's recap, Adair talks about some of the impact players during the fall season, two seniors who are graduating this fall and the 2020 signing class. Of note: Tech's newest signees will be featured weekly in our "Welcome Wednesday" series starting next week (Nov. 25).
When it comes to individual accomplishments for Tech during the 2020 fall, a five-week stretch really highlighted the impact a trio made for the Hokies as they made their run to a postseason berth.
It started with junior midfielder Emily Gray, who was named to the All-ACC Third Team after a season in which she returned from an ACL injury in 2019 to currently rank first in the nation this fall in assists with eight (there are still three SEC tournament matches remaining). Gray also earned her first ACC Player of the Week honor this year (Oct. 27), while her other numbers included 0.62 assists per game (third nationally, first in the ACC), 14 total points (11th, 5th) and 1.08 points per game (31st, 12th). She also broke the school record for assists in a match with four in Tech's convincing win over Miami (Oct. 15).
Forward Tori Powell earned a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team despite a slow start to 2020. She didn't record her first point until October 4, but finished the fall season as one of the best first-year players in the country. Her five overall goals were 13th in the nation and seventh in the ACC, but was tied for first among freshman with four others including ACC players Megan Bornkamp (Clemson) and Jody Brown (Florida State). She also had 12 points (21st in country, 11th in ACC), tied for second in the nation among freshmen and first in the ACC with Virginia's Lia Godfrey. Powell also earned ACC Player of the Week and United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week honors (Nov. 3) after a six-point final regular season week that helped Tech finish in a tie for sixth in the final ACC standings.
Then there was freshman goalkeeper Alia Skinner who also earned ACC Player of the Week and United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week honors (Oct. 6) after a 12-save performance in Tech's first win of the year over No. 14 Pitt (2-0). Skinner ranked in the top 20 nationally in four categories, which placed her in the top three of the ACC and first among freshman goalkeepers. She was third in total saves (68) and seventh in saves per game (5.67), both second in the ACC, and ninth in minutes played (1,071:56) and 19th in save percentage (0.800), both third in the ACC and again, first among any ACC freshman goalkeeper.
Q: What are your thoughts about Emily Gray's return to the field this season?
CA: "Emily Gray put a lot of work in during the offseason due to her injury and it showed with her success this year on the field. She's diligent, she cares and she's committed in her game. She's not only committed to the team she's on, but she's committed to making herself better and continuing her growth at all different levels. So, it was key for her to get back and we're pleased to have her back and healthy. She actually battled through some injuries near the end of the year too, so we were pleased that she was able to play and perform and contribute as well during that time when she was maybe not 100 percent."
Q: There was a quartet of freshmen that started more than 10 matches this season, what do you think about their development this season?
CA: "First of all, Tori Powell, she really grew and came into her own during the season as she developed. We think that she can be a very dangerous frontrunner for us who can create and score a lot of goals. She's not afraid to do work up top, be physical and do what she needs to do to be successful. She really grew and developed and we're really proud of that effort that she gave. We'd like to continue to work with her and push her and continue to see her growth and develop into the player we think she can be – an All-ACC-type of performer. Then looking at the other three freshmen that we had that started most of our games this season – it's crazy to think that we had a freshman in goalkeeper and two centerbacks that were freshmen as well. I think we've got a lot of youth back there, which is good.
Starting with Alia Skinner, I think she gained experience through the season, but she's also somebody who has great character, a good work ethic and is a very good goalkeeper. So, we're excited for her future with us at Virginia Tech and want to continue to push and grow her role within the team and her role in the backline as well. So, we want to keep that moving forward as we can.
Looking at Victoria Haugen, she showed her ability throughout this year. I think she's been a quality player for us in the back, stepping right into some very difficult games, top-level college soccer games right off the bat in her freshman year. I think she's shown that she can lead out the back and can grow and learn. I think she's really had a fruitful freshman year and I think it's going to provide for her a lot of opportunity to be successful with us here at Virginia Tech and into her future soccer playing career. So, we're excited for her future.
And then Averi Visage transformed into a centerback for us this year. She's tremendously grown over her time. I think she's capable of playing many positions, but we used her at centerback this fall. She's good on the ball, comfortable playing out and she's growing into a ball-winner and someone who can be a force in the air moving forward. So, we're excited for her future as well. Those are four freshmen that played a lot of significant minutes for us this year. So, looking at that growth and development over the year, we're looking forward to the spring and the future years of those players being part of our program."
Q: There are a couple of seniors graduating this December, what can you say about what they've meant to the program?
CA: "We're sad that we're going to lose two seniors midyear to graduation, Caroline Cipolla and Alice Hamel. Caroline Cipolla has grown during her time here as a player – not only on the field, but also off the field. She's definitely going to be successful in whatever she does, and nursing school is the next phase for her. She's been mature, accountable and she bought in to the team aspect during her four years and it showed during her senior year more than ever. I think her growth and maturity was key for her impact on our group and it was also good for the young freshmen to see and experience that and to see the type of person she's become, so we're going to miss that. Also, we're graduating Alice Hamel, one of our goalkeepers. Her experience and her grit to get through and continue to persevere through an injury and through her time here at Virginia Tech is something that we'll miss. She's been a tremendous team player and someone that's been supportive from the side for her career and I think she's put a lot of effort into that. She has that blue-collar mentality and that helped her in getting through the work that's needed on a daily basis. Even though it hasn't always shown in her minutes, she always put in that work and we're proud of Alice and going to miss her this spring."
Q: Signing Day was last week and we will announce them as we usually do, one a week starting next week, but overall can you talk about this class as an overall group?
CA: "I think it's fitting that we just talked about the freshmen group that just played this season and then our incoming class that will be joining us for next season and how they'll mesh, and I think the future looks bright for our program, looking at our 21 class. We've got a good group of kids who are well balanced, with forwards, midfielders, defenders and a goalkeeper. I think we have an impact at every line of our program. We're excited for them to come in. I think they bring a high-level of soccer ability that can really impact our program as we move forward in the next phase of our next few years. We're excited for this 21 class! We think this is going to be one of our best classes that we've had and will fit in really well with the other groups – our current freshman class as well as our returning players, who are going to be the leaders for these newcomers. We're really excited for this class, and we're going to continue to be young and solid and passionate for playing soccer at Virginia Tech."