BLACKSBURG – Fresh off Thursday's 5-1 win against Villanova, the Virginia Tech women's soccer team will look to score a top-15 victory on Sunday, Sept. 12, when Tech visits No. 12 South Carolina at Stone Stadium. Sunday's match between the Hokies and the Gamecocks will air live on SEC Network.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
• Home vs. Away: Virginia Tech improved to 4-0-0 at home this season after piling on five goals against its old BIG EAST foe, Villanova, on Thursday evening. Five different Hokies found the net for Tech, which built the 3-0 lead before halftime and tacked on two goals inside the final 10 minutes of play. Considering the Hokies' four home matches this season, Tech has scored 16 goals at a +14 differential – a margin that flips to -2 for matches that have taken place outside Blacksburg. Sunday will mark the Hokies' first-ever trip to Columbia to face the Gamecocks. Tech is 1-2-0 this season when competing away from Thompson Field.
• Peak Competition: Sunday's match at South Carolina will serve as Virginia Tech's final test before the Hokies begin their 10-match run through the ACC. The Hokies are in the midst of one of their more challenging stretches of the season as the Gamecocks are the second of five ranked programs Tech will face before Oct. 2. Last Sunday, the Hokies held the attacking edge against the defending national champion, No. 9 Santa Clara, despite playing to the hard-fought, 2-0 defeat on a neutral pitch. Tech is seeking its second top-15 victory during as many seasons, having defeated No. 14 Pittsburgh, 2-0, at Thompson Field in October 2020. The Hokies are also chasing their first win against a ranked side since the opening round of the 2018 NCAA tournament when Tech knocked off No. 17 Texas in Austin.
• Strength in Numbers: Virginia Tech is equipped with a diverse attacking cast as 15 Hokies have recorded at least one point this fall, including eight that have scored. Upon netting her team leading, seventh goal on Thursday, Emily Gray moved into a tie for the fourth most goals scored among NCAA Division I attackers this season. While Thursday's match saw Tori Powell and Nicole Kozlova return to the scoring column for Tech, the Hokies have proudly seen valued production from their newcomer corps. Emma Pelkowski leads Tech's freshman class with six points (goal, four assists) while Sophie Maltese (two goals) and Aino Vuorinen (goal, two assists) have stepped up for the Hokies as well. Allie Lewis has also anchored Tech's line of backs, helping steer chances away from sophomore goalkeeper Alia Skinner (13-10-0 career record, 1.32 GAA).
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech is off until Saturday, Sept. 18, when the Hokies will open ACC play at Thompson Field against North Carolina State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
