BLACKSBURG – For the third time within the last four seasons, the Virginia Tech women's soccer team is again headed to the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship as the Hokies heard their name called among the 64-team field during Monday's selection show, as streamed courtesy of ncaa.com.
Earning one of eight at-large berths from the ACC, Virginia Tech (11-5-2, 5-3-2 ACC) will host Ohio State (9-8-2, 4-4-2 Big Ten) during first round play on Friday, Nov. 12, at Thompson Field (6 p.m. kickoff). The Hokies will be making their 12th NCAA tournament appearance all-time and their eighth during Chugger Adair's 11 seasons as the program's head coach.
Monday's NCAA tournament qualification was received as the payoff for Tech's demanding 2021 regular season schedule that featured 13 regular season matches against RPI top-100 opponents. Entering the selection window, the Hokies ranked No. 29 in RPI and No. 47 in strength of schedule while spending two weeks of the season ranked inside the United Soccer Coaches top 25 poll.
Among its most significant performances of the 2021 season, Tech scored a true road victory at No. 12 South Carolina in September (1-0) shortly before staging draws against consecutive top-five opponents: No. 4 North Carolina (2-2) and No. 2 Duke (1-1). After holding No. 1 Florida State to statistical lows during their October defeat, the Hokies closed the regular season with three consecutive victories, tabulating their most ACC table points (17) since 2015.
One of the most diverse scoring casts across the circuit, Tech is equipped with 18 point-earners and 11 goal scorers – the former of which ranks as the third most among ACC programs. The Hokies are led by their 2021 All-ACC Second Team selection, Emily Gray, who paced all conference midfielders in points during the regular season (29), accounting for 11 goals and seven assists.
Battle-tested, Tech has the determination and fight to follow in the footsteps of its 2013 team that advanced as far as the College Cup. As a program, the Hokies have reached the round of 16 on five occasions, most recently in 2018.
Tech's first round opponent, Ohio State, finished seventh in the 2021 Big Ten standings, exiting the conference tournament in the quarterfinal round courtesy of its 1-0 loss to No. 18 Purdue. The Hokies and the Buckeyes share one prior NCAA tournament meeting, having clashed during the second round in 2015 at Penn State (won by OSU, 1-0).
Despite Tech's 1-3-0 all-time record against the Buckeyes, the Hokies are 6-5-0 during NCAA tournament openers and boast a 5-2-1 record during home NCAA tournament matches (considering all rounds). This season, Tech went 7-1-1 across its nine regular season home matches, scoring 24 goals at a +19 goal differential.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to Friday's NCAA tournament first round match between Virginia Tech and Ohio State are available for $10 to the general public and for $5 to fans ages 18 and under. Admission will be free to the first 500 Virginia Tech students in attendance (students must display valid ID upon arrival).Gallery: (11-8-2021) WSOC: 2021 NCAA Selection Show