Hokie ClubELON, N.C. - The Virginia Tech women's soccer team dominated Elon Sunday night as Taylor Price, Sophie Maltese, Gabby Johnson, Natalie Mitchell, and Ella Ciardullo all netted goals in a 5-1 nonconference victory at Rudd Field.
Price started the night off scoring her third goal of the season in the 21st minute, heading the ball into the net with an assist from Lauren Gogal. Maltese kicked the ball to the far right of the net in the 40th minute to put the Hokies (3-0-1) up by two over the Phoenix (1-1-1).
"We are pleased with the result tonight," said head coach Chugger Adair. "We were efficient in moving the ball, creating chances, and getting the numbers moving forward with a couple of wonderful goals."
Graduate student Gabby Johnson scored her first goal of the season with a blazing kick to the back of the net to start the second half.
In a night of firsts, freshmen Mitchell and Ciardullo scored their first goals of the season in the final 30 minutes of the match. Mitchell stepped up to take a penalty kick 62 minutes into the game, depositing the ball to the far left side of the net, just outside of the goalkeeper's reach, moving Tech to a 4-0 advantage.
A native of Milton, Ga., Ciardullo cruised by two defenders and the goalkeeper to score the Hokies' fifth goal of the night and her first collegiate goal.
Lauren Hargrove, logged 300 minutes as goalkeeper for Tech on the season before letting one shot get past her in the 66th minute of the Elon match.
UP NEXT
The Hokies will travel across the Commonwealth to play Old Dominion on Thursday, Sept. 1 starting at 6:00 p.m. All Tech fans making the trip to Norfolk for Friday's football game at ODU are encouraged to attend. Admission is free of charge to Thursday's women's soccer match.
Click here to support Virginia Tech Women's Soccer all season by making a pledge per goal today.