hokies jump 4 spots to no. 6 in united coaches soccer poll

Ishan Lamba

Staff Writer

September 7, 2021

BLACKSBURG — No. 6 Virginia Tech continued its hot start to the season with another undefeated week.

A come-from-behind 2-1 victory over UCF and a 3-3 draw with then-No. 20 ranked Seton Hall bumped the Hokies up four spots in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.

Tech has been on a steady climb since the preseason poll ranked it No. 15. Storming back from two goals down to defeat the defending national champions Marshall last Sunday put the nation on notice and bumped Virginia Tech up five spots to No. 10.

Marshall also had its own 3-3 draw over the weekend with Coastal Carolina, dropping it to the Hokies’ old spot at No. 10.

Virginia Tech joins Clemson (No. 2) and North Carolina (No. 4) as the third ACC program in the top six. Pitt (No. 15), Duke (No. 19), and Wake Forest (No. 25) make up the other ranked ACC programs.

No. 19 Duke and Virginia Tech will open up their ACC schedules against each other this upcoming Saturday. Duke had a strong start to the year, winning its first three games. However, a double-overtime loss to Seattle last night at home might rattle the Blue Devils confidence.

While the Hokies were able to notch a draw against the team that eliminated them in the NCAA tournament last spring, they did surrender a two-goal lead in the last half hour of the game, resulting in the draw with Seton Hall.

Tech will look to turn the momentum in its favor and come up with a strong showing against a conference opponent Saturday night in Durham.