Virginia Tech women down Wake Forest, 3-1

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Via Virginia Tech University) – Virginia Tech netted three first half goals and defeated Wake Forest, 3-1, in ACC women’s soccer action Thursday night at Spry Field.

With the win, the Hokies, ranked ninth nationally, improve to 12-1-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play. Wake Forest falls to 4-8-2 overall and 1-4 in league action. The Hokies have now scored at least three goals in each of their last four games, all ACC victories.

“I’m very pleased to come away from Wake with a ‘W’,” head coach Chugger Adair said. “I think it was a good match and both teams fought hard throughout the match. I don’t know if we both played to our capabilities. We took our chances early and set a very good tone for the match and the win. It allowed us to get the upper hand with some early goals.”

The Hokies jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute of action. Laila Gray scored off a Demon Deacon turnover and shot over the goalie 40 yards out. Eight minute later, in the 15th minute, Tech went up 2-0 on a goal by Murielle Tiernan, who knocked in a corner kick from Anissa Dadkhah.

Wake Forest got on the board in the 24th minute, as Peyton Perea tapped in a deflection in front of the goal, making the score 2-1 Hokies. But less than one minute later, Tiernan beat goalie Lindsay Preston to the left post from 18 yards out.

The match remained 3-1 into the intermission. Neither team scored in the second half, despite nine shots by the Hokies. Tech out shot the Deacs, 19-8 and had a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Kaylyn Smith earned her 11th win over the season in goal for the Hokies. She had two saves on the evening.

“To go home with three points is key for us as we move forward and we go after a big match on the road at Clemson on Sunday,” Adair concluded.

The Hokies conclude this three-game road swing on Sunday afternoon, as they travel to No. 7 Clemson. The match begins at 1 p.m.