Gray Ties for 10th on hokies' all-time scoring list; vt downs villanova 5-1

Kolbjorn Bergstrom

Staff Writer

September 10, 2021

BLACKSBURG — After Virginia Tech let an opportunity pass by, Villanova’s goalkeeper Megan McClay looked to give her defense a chance to start its next possession with a clean field ahead. Instead, a few Hokie forwards continued their pressure on the backline, leading to Emliy Gray intercepting McClay’s pass.

Gray charged forward, though she had one defender in her peripheral, the senior already had her target set. As she inched narrowly inside the 18-yard box, she took her opportunity, and buried home a low driven ball into the right corner to give the Hokies a 2-0 lead.

It marked the start of another excellent home performance for the Hokies. And it was a night to remember for Emily Gray as the midfielder placed her name again into the school’s record books.

It was Gray’s seventh goal of the season — all coming in the last five games after she was held scoreless in the first two. Her 30^th minute goal tied her with Laurie Beth Puglisi, who played for the Hokies form 2005-2008, at No. 10 on the Hokies’ all-time goals list with 22.

“I didn’t know that going into the game,” Gray said, when asked if it gives her extra motivation. “The motivation is to help the team, it’s not about being on top of the list.”

Her goal became the highlight in the Hokies’ (5-2-0) 5-1 win over an undefeated Villanova squad (5-1-0). And it capped off Tech’s aggressive style of play to open the season at home. In four games at Thompson Field this season, the Hokies have scored 16 goals.

“Emily has been a very impactful player,” head coach Chugger Adair said. “Scoring has been a piece of it, but even in her play, and her possession, her off the field commitment, her work rate and her leadership, she has been a wonderful player for us.”

From the get-go, the Hokies controlled the momentum as they established their signature aggressive pressure, which would be seen throughout the first half.

The early pressure led to an opportunity for Virginia Tech, as Emily Gray was fouled just outside the 18 yard box, resulting in a free kick.

With Gray and Nicole Kozlova behind the ball, it felt destined for the senior to take the shot, however she tapped the ball over to Kozlova, whose distance shot narrowly missed the target, perfectly hitting the corner of the crossbar and the post.

Pressure wasn’t the only strategy move established in the first half, as the early portion of the game seemed to flow through the touchline work of sophomore Ava Veith.

Five minutes after the narrow miss, the full back reinvested the faith from her teammates, sailing a pass into the path of forward Tori Powell.

Halfway into Villanova territory, Powell drove towards the goal, her pace being too much for Wildcat defender Molly Shannon.

As Powell broke inside the 18-yard box, she took three touches, one to turn right, one for composure, and in the middle of the box, sending the ball into the net.

Powell’s goal gave the Hokies the lead 15 minutes into the match — something they didn’t relinquish for the rest of the night.

The goal marked her third entry on the program record list. She’s tied for fifth in assists and seventh in points.

It didn’t take long for the Hokies to find the scoreboard Thursday night.

Three minutes after Gray’s record-tying goal, freshman Aino Vourinen’s cross connected with Nicole Kozlova’s head to give the Hokies a 3-0 lead, rounding out a fast start for the home side.

The assist was Vourinen’s second of the season, which she says is “ just a feeling, when I’m on the field with great people around me”.

Entering the second half, Villanova didn’t have a single shot to account for and had its work cut out for them.

Just minutes into the half, Villanova came out of the gates swinging, scoring its first goal of the match in the 50^th minute.

Midfielder Niki Molina found the goal off an assist from forward Lauren Belcoure and Villanova faced a two goal deficit with plenty of time left to get back into the match.

The even play between the Hokies and Wildcats continued throughout the early portion of the second half.

“They played a little more direct than they had, they overloaded some sides and we didn’t adjust well to it,” Adair said about Tech's early second half struggles.

Even when Virginia Tech found opportunities to score another goal, the ball either narrowly missed or resulted in a save from Villanova’s goalkeeper.

But for McClay, as the second half went on, her defense folded and the Hokies found more opportunities and possession, as two more goals rolled past her and into the back of the net.

Two freshmen added the final two goals as Emma Pelkowski and Vourinen scored with under 15 minutes to play, icing VT’s win and ending Villanova’s perfect season.

“I was relieved because I had one chance before that, so it felt good to finish and help the team,” Vourinen said after her first career goal. “Emma made a great pass and it was easy to finish from there.”