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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech women’s soccer team will play host to Appalachian State on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in its only exhibition match of the 2013 preseason.

The Hokies are coming off a 13-6-1 season in 2012 that saw them break the program record for fewest losses in a season. Tech also advanced to its fifth-straight NCAA Tournament and hosted the first-ever NCAA First Round match at Thompson Field.

Appalachian State returns nine starters from last year’s squad that went 10-8-1 en route to a fourth-place finish in the Southern Conference. Junior Julia Holz led the Mountaineers last year, tallying eight goals and 18 assists on her way to First Team All-SoCon honors.

“This will be a good opportunity to test ourselves against a good opponent in Appalachian State,” Head Coach Chugger Adair said. “The girls have been working hard all through preseason and are excited to get going.”

The Hokies have earned respect from multiple national polls this week. In the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Poll released on Tuesday, Tech sits 33rd nationally, while the BennettRank Preseason National Rankings have the Hokies in 12th. Tech was also picked ninth in this week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Poll.

Thursday’s exhibition match is open to the public free of charge.

For updates on Virginia Tech women's soccer, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_WSoccer).