Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Squaring off against the ACC leader on Friday, the Virginia Tech women's soccer team gave No. 1 Florida State a fight at Thompson Field, despite succumbing to the Seminoles, 2-0.
Virginia Tech (8-5-2, 2-3-2 ACC) succeeded in keeping Florida State (14-0-0, 7-0-0 ACC) within reach throughout the evening, playing no worse than a goal down for more than an hour. With their rigid defending, the Hokies limited the Seminoles to season lows in both total attempts (nine) and attempts on target (two) while holding the visitors to one corner during each half.
Beata Olsson delivered the go-ahead goal for Florida State during the 31st minute, beating Alia Skinner to a ball in the box before completing the FSU attack with a routine, open finish. Yujie Zhao handled the lead-up on the left wing, flicking Gabby Carle's forwarding pass to herself before setting up Olsson's reception on the penalty dot.
Tech was a goal away from equalizing through to the 70th minute when Jaelin Howell unloaded a 25-yard strike that sailed under the crossbar out of Skinner's reach. Carle was credited with her second assist of the match as her give-and-go with Howell allowed FSU to sit tall with its 2-0 lead.
Nicole Kozlova arguably came up with the Hokies' best look at finding the net during the opening 10 minutes of play. After Tori Powell had bullied Howell to the ball on Tech's counter-attack, the sophomore scooted her pass ahead on the left side to Kozlova, who one-timed her left-footed shot into the diving gloves of Mia Justus.
Emily Gray racked up three attempts on her Senior Night, nearly turning an FSU turnover into the match-tying goal during the 67th minute.
Tech conceded the 9-5 advantage in total attempts to the Seminoles (2-1 on target).
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Virginia Tech will host Miami at Thompson Field on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m.Gallery: (10-15-2021) WSOC: Florida State Match