Hokies rebound with 1-0 win over no. 22 Wolfpack

By Kolbjorn Bergstrom

Staff Writer

September 22, 2022

The first half ended in an onslaught on No. 22 North Carolina State, as the home side could not match Virginia Tech’s pressure. The Hokies led in total shots at halftime by an 11-1 margin, but had not been able to find a goal. The Wolfpack would need an answer fast, as goalkeeper Maria Echezarreta may not be able to keep up her clinical performance for the home side without some help.

After a devastating 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh (9-1) at home, Virginia Tech (7-2-1) would look to bounce back in the beginning of its two game North Carolina road trip with a visit to Raleigh and North Carolina State (6-2-3). This would not be a simple task, as the Wolfpack have only lost one game this season.

Though Chugger Adair’s side was on the road, there were two factors that evened out the odds of winning. To start, the weather during the match was windy, which influenced the ball movement most notably in the midfield. On top of that, Virginia Tech has not lost in Raleigh since 2005.

That streak continued as the Hokies won 1-0 thanks to Taylor Price’s 63rd-minute winner.

Not only did Virginia Tech start well, but it dominated the first half. It had control of the game from start to end of the first 45 minutes with quality chances to go with the possession.

Midfielder Emma Pelkowski had created two incredible chances.

The first of these chances was a build-up where she drove from the midfield line to just outside of the box, feeding Price, who connected with an immediate back heel flick into the box to forward Natalie Mitchell. Echezarreta came up with the save to keep the game scoreless.

The second was an intended cross that, without Echezarreta getting a piece of it, would have been a goal.

This was the theme of not only this half, but the game, as Echezarreta was a brick wall in net. With a superhuman save off a deflected shot from forward Tori Powell, Echezarreta ended the first half with six saves.

The half would end with neither side finding the back of the net, but the away side was in full control. The Hokies went into the half with an 8-0 lead in corners, an 11-1 lead in shots, and a 6-0 lead in shots on target.

In other words, a Hokies goal was brewing. It was just the question of when it would come.

Halfway through the second half, the crowd received that answer. Mitchell, who had been everywhere on offense, drove down the left side of the box. She sent in a cross near post, and connected with fellow freshman Price to give the Hokies a 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately for North Carolina State, that would be the final score of the game. The Wolfpack worked hard to get back into the game, but it was not enough. Virginia Tech even increased the lead it had on shots (21-7) and shots on target (10-1), capping off an impressive away performance.

The schedule doesn’t get easier for the Wolfpack, as they will stay in Raleigh to take on the No. 5 Duke Blue Devils (7-2), which suffered both of its losses at home to the No. 2 team in the nation at the time. The game is set to take place this Sunday at 7:00 p.m.

Virginia Tech will continue its North Carolina tour with a trip to Winston-Salem this Sunday to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-1-2), which recently lost to the Wolfpack. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.