September 11, 2013
Hokies play host to top-ranked North Carolina
Defending national champs winless in last two trips to Blacksburg

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The Virginia Tech women’s soccer team will welcome a top-ranked foe to Thompson Field for the first time since 2009 on Thursday evening, when it takes on defending national champion North Carolina at 7 p.m.

The Hokies wrapped up their 2013 non-conference slate last weekend, grabbing a 2-0 home victory over Charlotte on Friday evening, before going on the road to claim a 3-1 win at James Madison on Sunday.

A pair of underclassmen paced Tech over the weekend, as sophomore Ashley Meier and freshman Murielle Tiernan each tallied a pair of goals in the two matches. Both players have now scored five times in 2013 to lead the Hokie offense.

By finishing their non-conference slate with a 5-0-1 record, the Hokies have now gone two consecutive years without a regular season non-conference loss. Their efforts have propelled them into national rankings, as Tech sits at No. 22 in the Soccer America Top 25 and is receiving votes in Top Drawer Soccer’s Top 25.

UNC represents the toughest opponent that Tech has faced thus far, as the defending national champs come to Blacksburg sporting a 6-0-0 record and a No. 1 ranking in all three national polls (Top Drawer Soccer, NSCAA and Soccer America).

The Tar Heels are coming off of a pair of victories over top-10 foes last weekend in Durham, N.C. UNC knocked off No. 2 UCLA in a 1-0 decision, before triumphing 4-2 over No. 9 West Virginia.

“There’s no doubt that UNC is one of the best teams in the nation and they’ve had a great start to the season,” Head Coach Chugger Adair said. “We’ve got to start well to set a tone for the match and work hard. It’s going to be a total team effort tomorrow to defend well and to gain possession through the midfield and up front.”

Tech has faced off against UNC 12 times in program history, with the Tar Heels leading the series 9-2. However, the Hokies have found success at Thompson Field recently, winning both of the most recent contests in Blacksburg, including a 1-0 victory in 2009 when UNC entered the match ranked No. 1.

Admission to Thursday evening’s match is free to the public. Live stats will also be available at HokieSports.com.

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

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