Late-game heroics lift Virginia tEch over no. 3 North Carolina

By Kolbjorn Bergstrom

Staff Writer

October 1, 2022

BLACKSBURG, Va. — As the crowd started to come to life and Virginia Tech was fighting back into the matchup, it got its biggest break yet. With less than 10 minutes remaining, North Carolina midfielder Maggie Pierce received her second yellow card, removing her from the match and leaving North Carolina a woman down.

The momentum had fully swung in Tech’s favor, leaving one final question for the draw: Could the home side find the game winner?

Hurricane Ian had thankfully come and gone in Blacksburg, but its effects certainly lingered over to the game, as the Saturday-night matchup. was certainly the coldest so far. This may have been a part of the uncharacteristically small crowd for the matchup, as Virginia Tech (9-2-1) hosted No 3 North Carolina (9-3) its toughest test yet.

Three facts stuck out about this matchup that made it seem like an impossible mountain to climb.

To start, North Carolina had only lost to two teams prior to the matchup, No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 Virginia. Both sides had only beat North Carolina by a goal.

Secondly, the Tar Heels were undefeated (4-0) on the road coming into Thompson Field, including wins against top-25 hopeful Texas and rival, No. 4 Duke.

Lastly, Virginia Tech had not beaten North Carolina in 11 years, the season head coach Chugger Adair took over the program. Its closest result since Adair’s hire was a 2-2 tie at Chapel Hill last season. That season saw both sides eliminated in the last 16 of the NCAA tournament.

This was a daunting matchup for the Hokies and they would need to be careful to not make a mistake against the prolific Tar Heel side.

“UNC’s a good team, a traditional powerhouse,” Adair said. “They are an awesome program.”

The first half was not quite what the Blacksburg crowd was used to seeing from the Hokies, but the play was great from each side. Adair’s side found itself looking for opportunities from counter attacks while UNC had most of the possession. This possession gap would lead to more shots for the Tar Heels, who led 11-1 in attempts entering halftime.

With just shy of 15 minutes remaining in the first half, the ball was on the confident foot of UNC midfielder Libby Moore. She took a few steps with the ball and ripped a shot from outside the box. Her strike was intended for goalkeeper Lauren Hargrove’s upper left corner, but a deflection off of defender Averi Visage sent it in the opposite direction and into the bottom-right corner of the net, giving the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute.

Moore’s goal was the difference maker going into halftime, but Virginia Tech had another issue it would need to resolve — chance creation. Virginia Tech led in chances at halftime of its last two games, but this time around, UNC led 3-0 in shots on goal 3-0 and corners 3-0.

If the home side wanted back in the match, it would need to find ways to test UNC goalkeeper Emmie Allen.

Outside of an injury scare for the Hokies early on in the second half, play became a lot more level between the two sides, with less opportunities to score available.

With just under 20 minutes remaining in the match, Tech forward Sophie Maltese created a chance by driving towards the defense. The sophomore slotted the ball to forward partner Taylor Bryan on her left, and the junior shot the ball across the face of goal and into the bottom left corner to bring her side level.

This goal marked the second in two games for Bryan, who found her scoring form at just the right side for the Hokies.

“She [Bryan] has put a lot of effort in over time,” Adair said. “...Her ability to finish important goals has been great for her and great for her confidence.”

As the tide of the game was starting to turn in the favor of Virginia Tech, UNC forward Avery Patterson almost undid Tech’s equalizer. Patterson, North Carolina’s leading scorer, had a chance six yards out to head the ball into the back of the net, but it just sailed over the crossbar.

That wake-up call was exactly what Virginia Tech needed, as that was the last shot North Carolina had in the game. Four minutes later, Pierce was dismissed from the game, and the atmosphere over Thompson Field grew — as if the crowd knew Virginia Tech was on the cusp of history.

In the 84th, Allen’s goal kick flew into the midfield. Tech midfielder Lauren Gogal won the ball with a header towards midfield partner Natalie Mitchell, who put it back in the air towards freshman forward Taylor Price.

Price took one touch, then perfectly lifted the ball behind the defense for forward Tori Powell. In a one-on-one with the keeper, Powell chipped Allen, and the ball trickled into the back of the net.

Thompson Field erupted with the celebration of the crowd and players as the Hokies took a late 2-1 lead over the Tar Heels.

“It was just an awesome team effort,” Powell said. “I mean, we won both headers that went up, a great ball from Taylor Price, and then just a little flick over the goalie.”

Powell’s goal was the difference-maker in Virginia Tech’s biggest win of the season, knocking off No. 3 North Carolina.

“For us to beat them is a wonderful feeling,” Adair said. “I think we left a little short last year, we tied 2-2 with them… I think it left us a little hungrier this year in knowing that we could play with them. It’s a satisfying win tonight, to get the result here at home in front of Hokie Nation, and I am proud of their effort tonight.”

“It [the win] feels great, especially having that result last year,” Powell said. “It’s exciting to tie them but now we’re showing improvement and it feels really good.”