Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech came back from a 1-0 deficit at halftime to take down No. 3 North Carolina, 2-1, on Saturday night at Thompson Field. Taylor Bryan scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute before Tori Powell found the winner in the 85th minute to give the Hokies their first win over the Tar Heels since 2011.
The win marks Virginia Tech's third-straight ACC win and its second victory against a ranked opponent in its last three games.
Tech fell behind in the first half when a North Carolina shot from outside the box took a major deflection and landed in the back of Tech's net. The Tar Heels headed into the locker room up 1-0 with an 11-1 advantage in shots.
In the second half, the game balanced out and Virginia Tech was able to capitalize on a pair of opportunities.
Bryan netted her second goal of the season when she slotted a shot past the North Carolina keeper after Gabby Johnson played her in.
The game tilted further in the Hokies' direction in the 83rd minute when the Tar Heels' Maggie Pierce was shown a red card.
Tech's bench was able to empty in celebration shortly after when Taylor Price lofted a ball onto the path of Powell, who let the ball take a bounce before striking it past the keeper - securing the win for the Hokies.
Game Notes
- Virginia Tech earned its first top-5 victory since defeating No. 1 Virginia on Nov. 8, 2013.
- The Hokies earned their second win of the season against a ranked team. Tech last earned two ranked wins in the same season in 2018.
- Tori Powell's goal was her fifth-career game winner.
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Gallery: (10-1-2022) WSOC: North Carolina Match