Mistakes Haunt Hokies in First Losing Streak of the Season

By Kolbjorn Bergstrom

Staff Writer

October 10, 2022

Going a goal down for the second game in a row, No. 24 Virginia Tech was off to a nightmare start. This seemed to rattle the side as things would only get worse.

A miscommunication between Hokie players Emma Pelkowski and Aino Vuorinen gave Clemson midfielder Hal Hershfelt a golden opportunity just ten minutes later. Hershfelt proceeded to beat Vuorinen on the dribble and bury a goal from the right side of the box

Virginia Tech was down 2-0 again on self-inflicted mistakes.

The tale between these two sides almost felt destined going into this matchup. Clemson (7-4-2, 3-3 ACC) was coming off an important win while No. 24 Virginia Tech (9-4-1, 3-3 ACC) was coming off its most deflating defeat of the season.

Further, Clemson has had Virginia Tech’s number for awhile now, winning six of the past seven matches. The Tigers kept up their winning ways against Tech, winning 2-1.

From the start of the game, Clemson came out firing and found early success from its pressure.

Falling towards the right side of the pitch, it seemed as if defender Makenna Morris was looking to send the ball back into the box for one of her teammates. Whether intended or not, her delivery ended up shocking goalkeeper Lauren Hargrove as it floated into the back of the net, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead only five minutes into the game.

The second goal would come just ten minutes later from Hershfelt and the run of play would continue to favor Clemson. Virginia Tech was at its lowest point of the season, lower than the home defeat to No. 13 Pitt, and it would need to find its way out of this hole fast.

Coach Chugger Adair’s side did find the chance it needed, but a little luck was involved in the goal. Freshman Taylor Price was delivered an excellent pass into the box, and sent in a cross on the byline. Though it was too close to goalkeeper Halle Mackiewicz, there was interference from one of her teammates which sent the ball into the back of the net, leaving Virginia Tech only a goal down.

A late chance bloomed for Clemson forward Emma Wennar, but the freshman’s shot was saved by Hargrove, capping off a half mostly controlled by the home side. Clemson led in shots (7-2) and shots on goal (5-1), controlling the play of the game throughout the half. Virginia Tech would have its work cut out for it to make a second half comeback.

To its credit, Virginia Tech put together a second half performance to take with it. Outside of a crazy header that rang off the post for Clemson forward Samantha Meredith, the home side found fewer chances and no mistakes to exploit.

The second half was very even between the two sides, as they found a tie in shots (6-6) with a slim advantage to the Tigers in shots on goal (3-2). The Hokies even found themselves as the aggressors for most of the half, an improvement on its prior three halves of play.

Unfortunately for Virginia Tech, the improved performance would not provide an immediate result, as Clemson held on to win 2-1 to add on to its growing momentum.

In strong form, Clemson will look to maintain its winning ways on a trip to New York to play Syracuse (8-5-1, 1-4-1 ACC). Syracuse comes into the matchup after an impressive 2-2 tie with No. 2 UVa and will look to build on that result Oct. 14.

Virginia Tech will look to take its second half performance into its following game, as it takes on its toughest opponent yet in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash, No. 2 UVa (10-2-2, 3-2-1 ACC).

Both rivals enter in uncharacteristic form and will look to make amends in a rivalry game. The marquee matchup will take place Oct. 13 at 8:00 p.m. at Thompson Field.