two draws against top 5 opponents net alia skinner co-acc player of the week

Kolbjorn Bergstrom

Staff Writer

September 28, 2021

BLACKSBURG — After a heroic 14-save performance against No. 5 UNC followed by an eight-save performance against No. 4 Duke, sophomore keeper Alia Skinner earned a spot as co-ACC Defensive Player of the Week.

Her performance against the Tar Heels set a career high in saves for Skinner, breaking her previous high of 12 saves on Oct. 6, 2020 against — at the time — No. 14 Pittsburgh.

If that game was not impressive enough, she followed it up three days later with an eight save performance at home against the Blue Devils. Her performance kept Virginia Tech not only undefeated at home (5-0-1), but it also kept the Hokies undefeated in the ACC, with a 1-0-2 record.

The combined 22 saves from 25 shots on target helped earn the Hokies two draws against the top five opponents, resulting in the side entering the United Soccer Coaches Poll at No. 19 for the first time this season.

Over her first two seasons as a Hokie, Skinner has racked up a total of 110 saves, putting her name in the program’s record books at ninth in the category.

Tuesday marked Skinner’s second time earning the award, with the first coming during the aforementioned game against Pittsburgh.