hokies land delaware transfer gabby johnson

Ishan Lamba

May 28, 2021

BLACKSBURG — On Thursday, Virginia Tech women’s soccer head coach Chugger Adair announced the acquisition of Gabby Johnson, a midfielder from the University of Delaware. The redshirt junior still has two years of eligibility, starting in the fall, due to the pandemic-affected season.

Originally from Midlothian, Va., a suburb of Richmond, she excelled under head coach Julia Rhodes at the Veritas School. She was a two-time all-conference selection and team MVP in her freshman year of high school and earned MaxPreps National Player of the Week and MaxPreps season honors. Johnson set a school record in her sophomore year, scoring 49 goals and 20 assists.

To add to that impressive résumé, she was a standout sprinter, holding school records in the indoor 55 meter and 300 meter sprints and made numerous appearances for the Seattle Sounders’ WPSL team, one tier below the NWSL.

In her freshman year at Delaware, Johnson started six matches and tied the team lead for goals with three.

After redshirting in 2018 following an ACL injury, she made a return in 2019 as team captain. She notched a goal and a pair of assists in nine starts.

The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) did not have a fall 2020 season due to COVID-19, and Johnson played just a handful of games in spring 2021. Despite playing just five games, she was responsible for a quarter of the team’s goals.

Throughout Johnson’s Delaware career, she’s mustered 39 shots, putting pressure on the opposition. She also earned All-CAA Third Team for this past season.

“On behalf of the staff, we are excited for Gabby to join our program,” Adair said in a statement. “She has proven to be successful with Delaware and a consistent performer in the CAA as she has made their all-league team. Gabby will bring not only her soccer playing ability, but leadership, experience and joy for soccer to our program. She will be a wonderful fit with our current midfield unit.”

With a young midfield, Johnson boasts the experience and talent Adair and the Hokies will be looking for.

Johnson will be immediately eligible to compete for Virginia Tech.