Hokie ClubBuilding off its run to the second round of the 2021 NCAA tournament, the Virginia Tech women's soccer team is beyond proud to welcome each and every member of its 2022 signing class as part of the next generation in its program-long tradition of family. Tech has eagerly introduced its newest class of Hokies one by one as the program excitingly looks forward to its return to the pitch.
BLACKSBURG – Ella Valente is a five-foot-six attacker who hails from Sterling, Virginia, where she was a four-year varsity letterwinner in girls' soccer at nearby Potomac Falls High School. A decorated student-athlete in both academics and athletics, she was a three-time all-region and all-district honoree with the Panthers, representing them as a 2022 recipient of Student-Athlete of the Year by the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.
"On behalf of the staff and Virginia Tech, we are very excited to welcome Ella to the team," said head coach Chugger Adair. "We think she is going to be a wonderful addition to our program.
"Ella is an attacking-minded player who can play multiple positions and is somebody who is not afraid to put the work into all aspects of her game. She is fit, strong, athletic and dangerous with her technical game going forward. We are excited to have her join our group and for the impact she will make on our team."
As a forward and an attacking midfielder at Potomac Falls, Valente was a standout on the girls' soccer team under coach Brendan Ogden. Despite having her sophomore season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned three varsity seasons into three successive all-state accolades, including three such appearances on the all-region and all-district First Team.
During her junior year, Valente was named the Most Valuable Player in girls' soccer at Potomac Falls, where she also competed as a four-year varsity point guard in girls' basketball. A stellar student, she was inducted into the National Honor Society, serving as president of the Panthers' Best Buddies International chapter and on the Student Advisory Board.
On the club scene, Valente competed with Virginia Union FC in Northern Virginia, making an appearance at the 2020 Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) national tournament in Florida. She also reached a pair of State Cup championship matches with DMV FC in 2019 and 2020.
Valente inherited her soccer prowess from her mother, Tina, who won two NCAA Division III national championships at The College of New Jersey.
What schools did you consider? "East Carolina and Virginia Tech."
Why Virginia Tech? "I chose Virginia Tech because of its amazing academics along with its great women's soccer standing in the ACC. This school is a perfect fit for me because it has the balance of academics and athletics that I am looking for. Tech's atmosphere along with the beautiful campus also influenced my decision."
What was your favorite takeaway from your visit to Blacksburg? "My favorite thing about my visit was being able to be in the locker room with the team before the game to meet my future teammates. It was very cool to see everyone's pre-match routine and how the team gets hyped up together with music and dancing."
What do you like about the Tech women's soccer program? "I like the environment that the coaching staff, team and supporters have created for the Tech women's soccer program. It seems like a competitive environment where many players continue to become better and excel which I cannot wait to be a part of."
What are your soccer strengths? "My soccer strengths include my awareness and my decision making, how well I can attack defenders one-on-one and my ability to accurately shoot with either of my feet."
Who is your favorite professional player? "My favorite professional player is Julie Ertz because of her desire to win every ball that comes her way. You can see her competitive nature and the pride she takes in her game. She is always playing with everything she has to make her team successful. She has great vision, leadership and is great with balls in the air both in the midfield and on set pieces."
What is your most memorable soccer moment? "My most memorable soccer moment is playing on the same high school soccer team as my sister during my sophomore year. We both played in the midfield together and she assisted on some of my goals which was a great feeling since we had good chemistry on the field. We would listen to our pre-game playlist to get hyped before our matches."
What are you interested in studying at Virginia Tech? "I think I will major in human nutrition, foods and exercise because it is the path that will lead to a career in physical therapy. As an athlete, I have participated in physical therapy and I have an interest in helping people recover and return to their normal lifestyle."
What is one thing you would want Tech fans to know about you? "I have two dogs named Bailey and Lily and I love the beach."