LYNCHBURG, Va. — Emily Gray and Tori Powell combined for four goals to guide the Virginia Tech women's soccer team to a 5-3 nonconference win at Liberty, Thursday evening at Osborne Stadium.
With their third straight win, the Hokies level their record at 8-8, while improving to 10-1 all-time against Liberty, including a 4-1 mark in Lynchburg. The Flames dropped to 3-5-5.
"I was pleased and proud of our group for how we played tonight," head coach Chugger Adair said. "We did a good job, especially for the first 75 minutes. I thought we controlled the game, controlled the tempo and controlled the majority of the opportunities.
"I'm disappointed with the way we finished – giving up three goals late after we made some changes. We didn't close the game out well enough, and we showed a little bit of our youth at times. Overall, pleased with the win going into our last game of the regular season. I'm happy to be 3-0 in the spring. Our team will continue to build as we prepare for Auburn in a couple weeks."
For the second straight game, Gray converted a penalty kick. Her opening tally ignited a 5-0 surge by the Hokies to open the game.
Powell returned to the scoresheet for the first time since her brace at Wake Forest on Oct. 29. Holly Rose Weber delivered a cross on the money to Powell, who calmly headed in her sixth goal of the season in the 24th minute. Powell tacked on her second goal of the game in the 58th minute. Her seven goals scored are the most among ACC freshmen.
Gray provided her second strike of the game in the 64th minute by slotting a shot in the lower-left corner of goal. In the 69th minute, Nicole Kozlova received a perfectly weighted pass from Ayden Yates, then juked around Liberty's goalkeeper for her second goal of the season.
The Flames scored all three of their goals in the final 15 minutes of action.
Alia Skinner played just over 68 minutes, did not allow a goal and recorded two saves.
Tech racked up a 28-6 shot advantage and took 12 corners to Liberty's zero.
The Hokies' regular-season finale with Auburn is still being finalized. April 17 is the tentative date for the match, however, site and time have yet to be determined.