HUNTINGTON, W.V. - Three players scored their first goal in college action for the Virginia Tech’s women’s soccer team in a 4-0 victory over Marshall during a preseason exhibition game Thursday night.
For nearly the entire game, the preseason No. 5 team controlled the possession. The scoring started early when Senior Katie Yensen smacked a shot home in the sixth minute. Twenty minutes later, freshman Alani Johnson scored her first goal in college play. Not long after that sophomore Bria Dixon and sophomore Kallie Peurifoy scored goals of their own.
“I thought the team played well start to finish,” head coach Chugger Adair said. “We controlled the tempo of the game. We played different formations and different personnel to give everybody opportunities.”
Playing with eight returning starters from last season in the first Tech formation, senior Katie Yensen put the Hokies on the board early in the sixth minute when junior Ashley Meier beat a player on the dribble at the top of the 18-yard box to open up a charging Yensen from the wing, who corralled the ball and fired a shot to the back of the net.
Taking every advantage of the opportunity a preseason scrimmage presents, a few Tech newcomers and underclassmen made impressive showings. Not only did the group of youngsters score three goals, but they also assisted three.
Johnson put in the second Tech goal on a finish from a corner from Peurifoy in the 26th minute. The duo teamed up later in the 39th minute when Alani Johnson passed to the middle to find Peurifoy who sent a shot passed the Thundering Herd keeper.
In the 36th minute, Dixon added to Tech’s lead on a counter attack goal set up by freshman Madi Conyers. After a deflected ball from Tech’s back line, Conyers took the ball up the field straight at the Marshall defender to release Dixon for a breakaway with only the keeper to beat. Dixon received the pass and sent a shot low past the charging keeper.
At goalkeeper, the Hokies rotated all three of their goalies into the game, but neither was tested as the defense held off every serious attack from the Herd.
Tech begins its regular season play on Friday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. against VCU at Thompson Field.
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