Hokies fall to Boston College in the first round of the ACC tournament

By Duncan Weigand

Staff Writer

April 30, 2022

Virginia Tech head coach Kristen Skiera jumped for joy on the sidelines, a smile beaming across her face — a truly great moment that was caught by cameras after Grace Nelson’s first goal late in the fourth quarter. Nelson cut from the back of the net and beat her defender to the edge as she made her way to the front of the net. Nelson faked high and shot low just a few feet away from the goalie. The ball bounced up and in between the legs of Boston College’s Rachel Hall.

Nelson’s goal cut Tech’s deficit to four and gave life to a Hokie squad who felt completely out of the game up until that point.

Unfortunately for the Hokies, Jen Mejid immediately gave Boston College that goal back, halting any progress towards a dramatic comeback.

The main story of the game early for the Hokies were bounces and unforced errors. When Whitney Liebler got Tech on the board first early in the game she made a statement. This was not the same team that lost to Boston College 18-8 at Chestnut Hill three weeks ago.

This was, however, the ACC tournament, where the Eagles have dominated in recent memory. The Hokies weren’t expected to win, let alone keep it competitive. Boston College came into the game ranked second in the tournament. Virginia Tech came in as the No. 7 seed. A win couldn’t guarantee an NCAA tournament bid, but it would certainly help. (Sort of reminiscent of another Virginia Tech team this spring, no?)

When Liebler put Virginia Tech up one, the game truly began, and so did the bounces. Caitlynn Mossman, who had herself a game for BC, streaked towards the net after the Eagles controlled the draw.

Mossman beat her defender and quickly ripped a bounce shot. The fans in attendance watched as the ball bounced off the post right where it meets turf. Everyone in the stadium followed the ball except for Hokie goalie Morgan Berman, who didn’t know where it was until it hit her in the back of the helmet.

The ball ricocheted into the back of the net and knotted the game up at one. Berman looked up to the sky in disbelief. She wasn’t the only one in disbelief, as the announcers chuckled at her misfortune and the absurdity of it all.

Then came the unforced errors, a story of the game — and the season — for the Hokies.

Sophie Student was given a yellow card for a check to the head. Mckenna Davis was then awarded a free possession shot and the Eagles were awarded a player advantage. Davis picked her spot and let it fly, and that is exactly what the ball did, right into the twine. Boston College took the 2-1 lead and their first player advantage which they wasted no time capitalizing on. The Eagles scored on all three of their player advantages throughout the game.

A Hokie attacker had a chance to cut into the lead early as she ran into the crease and fired a shot. The shot rattled off the right iron and rolled along the goal line. The Eagles goalie couldn’t initially find it but did eventually. Hall emphatically swung her oversized goalie stick across her body and clamped the back of her pocket on top of the ball. Just moments before Student could make her way over and give the ball the tap it needed to be counted as a goal.

This missed possession led to another Boston College goal. The Hokies then won the next draw and ran down to have their next offensive possession. This time it was Sophie Student’s turn to beat everything but the crossbar.

At halftime, Tech trailed 12-6. Virginia Tech had momentum and it looked poised to make a comeback. The Hokies also managed to minimize damage from players who hurt them last game. One of those players being Charlotte North who scored 10 times in her last outing. North only managed to score once in the first half.

In the third the Hokies scored twice to make the score 12-8. But another unforced error gave Cassidy Weeks a free possession shot. Weeks did not disappoint the Eagles fans in attendance in Indiana, as she gave BC a 13-8 lead.

That dynamic continued throughout the rest of the second half. Virginia Tech got close but not close enough, its comeback efforts being thwarted by fouls or defensive mistakes.

When the horn sounded giving Boston College the 19-13 first round win over Virginia Tech, the Hokies looked upset and dejected; they knew they were in it.

The Hokies finished the regular season (9-8) and (2-5) in ACC play. The loss to Boston College on Friday all but eliminates them from NCAA tournament competition. They would have needed to beat Boston College to have a shot at a berth.

But there is a lot to be excited about for Hokie fans. First year Head Coach Skiera seems to really get along with players and loves Blacksburg. The players really speak highly of her.

Olivia Vergano, the freshman, and the rest of the underclassmen seem poised to make an impact next year. Vergano scored the second most goals on the team –– a whopping 40. That was only six behind Sophie Student.

Lastly, this team got quality wins and a historic win. That all started with a historic win over James Madison in Harrisonburg. And quality wins over ACC opponents, including No. 15 Notre Dame and No. 7 Duke.

This team is fun to watch, and in a transition year Skiera was able to do more than just a good job. This team has the potential to be a competitor in the ACC in the years to come and Virginia Tech fans should look forward to it.