WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Despite rallying behind Tori Powell's first career hat trick on Sunday evening, the No. 17 Virginia Tech women's soccer team finished a goal shy of earning the result at Wake Forest as the Hokies played to the 4-3 defeat at Spry Stadium.
Powell found the net during the 22nd, 46th and 61st minutes to help Virginia Tech (8-4-2, 2-2-2 ACC) fight back from as large as a two-goal deficit against the Demon Deacons. The Tech sophomore recorded the program's 13th hat trick all-time (second of the 2021 campaign) while departing the match with seven season goals.
Wake Forest (12-2-0, 4-2-0 ACC) struck first less than three minutes into the contest as Shayla Smart outran the Hokies' back line to make the final touch on the Deacs' counter-attack. Ten minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead to 2-0 as Lauren Gogal's trip of Hulda Arnarsdottir opened the door for Sofia Rossi to convert the first of her two penalty kick goals on the evening.
Emma Pelkowski provided the assist on Powell's first goal of the match that brought Tech within one of Wake Forest before the half-hour mark. The rookie midfielder sent in a left-to-right cross that met Powell's left cleat for her one-time volley through the right post from 10 yards away.
With all signs pointing towards a 2-1 halftime score line, Emma Steigerwald was called for a penalty against Jenna Menta with four seconds remaining in the half, prompting Rossi to up the Deacs' lead to 3-1 from the penalty dot. However, Tech answered 18 seconds into the second half when Powell capped the Hokies' opening attack with her running finish on Pelkowski's left-to-right cross, as set up beforehand by Nicole Kozlova.
Hunting for the equalizer, Emily Gray delivered the assist on the set piece that resulted in Powell's hat trick. The Tech senior introduced a dangerous ball inside the six-yard box, where Powell made the match-tying touch on the goal line to level the score at 3-3.
Moments after knotting the match, Virginia Tech conceded the ultimate match-winning goal to Smart during the 64th minute. After Menta had played a forwarding cross to the right side, Smart advanced past Steigerwald to unload her 12-yard attempt through the right post.
The Hokies outshot the Deacs, 18-13 overall (8-7 on target).
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Virginia Tech will return home to Thompson Field on Friday, Oct. 15, when the Hokies will host No. 1 Florida State at 5 p.m.