hokies blow two goal lead in tie with no. 4 north carolina

Ishan Lamba

Staff Writer

September 24, 2021

As Virginia Tech trotted back to its side of the field following yet another crucial Nicole Kozlova goal, it was less than 10 minutes away from a stunning upset over No. 4 North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., which would have been Tech’s first ever.

It was not meant to be, however, as the Hokies (7-2-1, 1-0-1 ACC) would concede two goals in the 82^nd and 85^th minutes to the Tar Heels (7-1-1, 0-1-1 ACC) and tie the match, 2-2.

“If you would’ve said we got a draw before the night started, I would’ve thought that’s a pretty decent result,” head coach Chugger Adair said after the game. “But I’m a little frustrated, you know, we were up 2-0 late in the game and gave up a couple goals in the end… but happy with a point, proud of the team, [Alia] Skinner played great in goal.”

Skinner didn’t just play well in net, but seemed to single-handedly keep Virginia Tech in the game on multiple occasions, recording a career-high 14 saves.

The Tar Heels started their onslaught right away, with Emily Colton firing a shot just wide of the net in the first minute.

North Carolina would record five more shots on net within the first half hour, all being shut down by Skinner.

With UNC’s explosive offense, it seemed like there was no opening for Virginia Tech to get into the game. It would take a costly defensive miscommunication from UNC for Tori Powell to pounce on the ball, dribble around goalie Claudia Dickey, and send it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Skinner would make another save to preserve that narrow lead into the half.

The Hokies continued to play aggressively coming out the break, with Emily Gray, Aino Vuorinen and Powell recording shots on and around the net. However, as the game continued, they began playing more and more conservatively.

Despite sustained Tar Heel pressure, the Hokies doubled their lead off a counterattack from Sophie Maltese and Kozlova, stunning the crowd at Dorrance Field. Just 10 minutes stood between Virginia Tech and its first ever victory at Chapel Hill and its first road victory over a top-5 opponent in over a decade.

Kozlova’s goal seemed to wake the sleeping giant, as North Carolina would pounce on any minor mistake Tech made to win as many opportunities as possible, and it worked.

Avery Patterson slotted the ball past Skinner off a cross to cut the deficit in half, then rushed the ball back to midfield.

Then, after more intensity, and winning their sixth corner of the game, the Tar Heels’ Emily Colton finished off a header and re-energized her team.

The Hokies looked noticeably dejected, and would continue to surrender chances for the remainder of regulation.

The first overtime period was just as electric as the last 10 minutes of the second half. Both teams had a couple chances to claim the golden goal, but both keepers were up to the task, making tough saves.

Meanwhile, the second overtime period was relatively quiet and the teams would end the night in a tie. UNC amassed 32 shots on the night, 16 on goal, and amidst this barrage, Skinner managed to keep her composure and preserve a positive result.

Adair praised her for her clinical performance.

“For us to get results on the road, in a tough place like this, she’s gotta make some saves, and she made a number of good saves tonight,” he continued. “It was probably one of her best games and if you look at her last two games prior, she’s been building up to this. She’s been getting better and better each game.”

Virginia Tech will have a quick turnaround for a new top-5 threat: No. 2 Duke.

The Blue Devils beat the Tar Heels in both teams’ previous match.

The Hokies will hope that the friendly confines of Thompson Field, where they have performed so dominantly this season, can give them a boost in this lopsided matchup. They have a much more favorable record against Duke in home matchups (3-4-1) as opposed to away (1-9-1).

Virginia Tech will search for its first win over Duke since 2015 as it kicks off this Sunday at 5 p.m. in Thompson Field.