Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech women's soccer made great strides in the 2022 season and remained unbeaten after the first six non-conference matches. The Hokies went on to win three straight ACC games, including two against nationally ranked opponents earning them a berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Tech started the season unbeaten after the first six matches scoring a season-high five goals against Elon (5-1). After a 4-3 victory against William and Mary, Lauren Hargrove took over as the starting goalkeeper for the Hokies recording three shutouts in her first four games. In an unexpected turn of events, Emmalee McCarter found herself playing in the net versus Charlotte recording her first career start and shutout as a goalkeeper. McCarter, who usually plays midfield, switched roles for the Hokies making five saves in the game versus Charlotte logging the clean sheet (3-0). Tech went on to outscore non-conference opponents 23 – 8 after eight matches with an overall record of 6-1-1.
Virginia Tech's first win of the season, 4-3 versus William & Mary
The Hokies won their first away ACC match of the year against then-ranked No. 22 NC State in a 1-0 shutout. Tech tamed the Wolfpack with a shot advantage of 21-7, allowing only one shot on goal. Taylor Price scored the game-winning goal against the Wolfpack earning her a spot on the College Soccer News Women's Team of the Week.
Three days later, Tech continued their road trip down to Winston-Salem, N.C defeating Wake Forest 2-0. The two-game winning streak earned Victoria Haugen ACC Defensive Player of the Week and was named to the College Soccer News Women's National Team of the Week. She was vital in the Hokies shutout success playing the full 180 minutes.
Tech pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season in college soccer, defeating No. 3 North Carolina 2-1. The 2-1 win marked Tech's first win against the Tar Heels since 2011. The Hokies scored two goals in the final 17 minutes of the match to claim victory. Taylor Bryan scored her first equalizing goal of the season and Tori Powell scored her fifth career game-winning goal. Powell's goal in the 85th minute earned her ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
Tori Powell scores game winning goal versus No. 3 North Carolina, 2-1
In the Commonwealth Clash versus No.13 Virginia, Tech tied the game in the final minute as Taylor Bryan slid past the defender and kicked the ball into the net for her second goal of the night. Taylor Price gave the Hokies an early lead scoring the first goal of the match in the 31st minute, leaving the Cavaliers scoreless at the half (1-0). Virginia came out in the second half looking for a win, scoring two goals within 20 seconds of each other in the 50th minute of the match. The Cavaliers grew their lead to 3-1 as Haley Hopkins scored her second goal of the match in the 59th minute. As time winded down to the final 10 minutes, Tech needed to tap into the last-minute strength they had shown all season long. The Hokies put in their equalizer, Taylor Bryan, who scored her first goal of the night in the 80th minute of the match. She quickly ran to get out of the net and set the Hokies up to pull off the tie. She dug deep and kicked the ball back into the net to pull out the equalizer in the final minute of the match (3-3).
Taylor Bryan nets the equalizer versus No. 13 Virginia, 3-3
Tech made history in the final home match of the season versus Syracuse 2-0, earning the program's 300th win. Gabby Johnson scored her third goal of the season on a corner kick in the 43rd minute kicking the ball right on target and into the far side of the net. The Orange were forced to play one woman down in the 61st minute after the Orange's starting goalkeeper received a red card for committing a foul on Taylor Price who was set up to score. Hokies took the advantage and extended their lead to 2-0 on a goal from Lauren Gogal, her first goal of the season.
300th program win for Virginia Tech women's soccer
Finishing No. 46 on the NCAA RPI list, Virginia Tech earned one of ten ACC bids to the 2022 NCAA tournament – the program's 13th all-time berth and its fourth within the last five seasons (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022). Tech ended the season with a fall to West Virginia 2-0 in Morgantown, W. Va. during the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Under head coach Chugger Adair, the Hokies have an 11-9-1 record while playing in the tournament. Tech is 7-6-0 all-time during the opening round of the NCAA tournament (4-3-0 away matches).
2022 NCAA Selection Show: Hokies celebrate after receiving berth into the NCAA Tournament
Season Highs
Taylor Price – 8 goals, 3 assists; 19 points
Taylor Price among the ACC - T-9th in points (19), T-8th in goals (8)*
Natalie Mitchell – 8 assists, 52 shots
Natalie Mitchell among the ACC - 4th in assists (8), 4th in assists per game (0.44)*
Lauren Hargrove – 6 shutouts, 57 saves
Lauren Hargrove among the ACC - T-4th in shutouts (6), 7th in saves (51)*
Tori Powell – 2 multipoint games; 2 goals - William & Mary, and Charlotte
Among current ACC Athletes - Powell is ranked 7th in overall career points (56) with 21 career goals (T-6th)*
Victoria Haugen - Started 19 of 19 games playing 1638 minutes.
*stats prior to the NCAA Tournament
Taylor Bryan scored 2 goals against #13 Virginia
12 athletes scored at least 1 goal this season
6 athletes scored 3 or more goals
16 athletes earned 1 or more points
Season Awards
TopDrawerSoccer Freshmen Top 100
Taylor Price - 5th
Natalie Mitchell - 11th
ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Victoria Haugen
ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Tori Powell
Taylor Bryan