BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The Virginia Tech women’s soccer team will host its second top-five opponent of the season on Thursday evening, as the No. 4 Hokies welcome No. 3 Florida State to Blacksburg for Thompson Field’s first-ever contest between two top-five teams.
Last week, junior Katie Yensen’s pair of goals in the first half boosted Virginia Tech to a 4-0 road win, as the Hokies took down ACC-newcomer Pittsburgh, 4-0 on Sunday afternoon. Freshman Murielle Tiernan and senior Ashley Manning also scored on the day, as Tech improved to 5-0-1 on the road this season.
Twelve different players have scored a total of 39 goals for the Hokies in 2013. Senior Jazmine Reeves, sophomore Ashley Meier and Tiernan have led the way so far, tallying seven goals each in the first 16 matches of the season. Junior midfielder Kelsey Loupee has racked up six assists this year
The Hokies are now 13-1-2 on the year, including an 8-1-1 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play, after going undefeated in non-conference play for the second consecutive season. Tech is also yet to give up more than two goals in any match this season.
Tech’s efforts have propelled it to the top of the national rankings, as the Hokies sit at No. 4 in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Poll and No. 5 in Top Drawer Soccer’s National Top 25, as well as No. 7 the RPI rankings, released weekly by the NCAA.
Florida State enters Thurday’s match as one of two remaining teams in the country without a loss at 13-0-3, including an 8-0-2 mark in the ACC. Last week, the Seminoles earned a pair of home wins, as they downed Pittsburgh (4-0) and Maryland (2-1).
Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Berglind Thorvaldsdottir have each scored seven goals this season to pace FSU, combining for almost half of the Seminoles’ 31 goals. Megan Campbell has assisted on six goals thus far, edging out Jamia Fields and Nickolette Driesse, who each have five.
Kelsey Wys has played every minute in goal for FSU, recording 34 saves on her way to an 0.48 goals-against-average on the season, the lowest in the ACC.
Florida State has controlled the all-time series between the two sides, as the Seminoles hold a commanding 11-0-1 advantage over Tech. In last year’s contest in Tallahassee, a 27th-minute goal from Hikaru Murakami that ricocheted in off the crossbar made the difference in a 1-0 FSU win.
Although Tech has played host to top-ranked teams in the past, including then-No. 1 North Carolina earlier this year, this will be the first match that the Hokies have played in program history as a team ranked in the top five of any national poll.
The Hokies have already clinched a spot in the ACC Tournament, but a win or draw by Tech--or a loss or draw by Notre Dame--will clinch a home match in the ACC Quarterfinals for the Hokies. Tech is also looking to earn a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament, guaranteeing home-field advantage for the first four rounds of the tournament.
Thursday’s match will be Super Hero Night at Thompson Field. Fans are encouraged to wear their best Super Hero costume and there will be free t-shirts, a cape making station and Super Hero-themed prizes.
The contest will be broadcasted live on ESPN3 and live stats will be available.
For updates on Virginia Tech women's soccer, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_WSoccer).