BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women’s soccer team hits the road this weekend for a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matches.
The Hokies (8-4-1, 0-3-1) will travel to Syracuse, New York, for a match against Syracuse (7-4-2, 0-3-1) on Thursday, Oct. 6. First kick from SU Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m. The match will be carried live on the ACC Network Extra through WatchESPN and the ESPN app.
Tech will then travel to Newton, Massachusetts, for a showdown with Boston College (9-3-1, 1-3-0) on Sunday, Oct. 9. First kick from the Newton Campus Lacrosse and Soccer Field is set for 1 p.m.
Syracuse Live Stats | Syracuse Live Stream | Boston College Live Stats
In its last outing, the Hokies snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-2 double-overtime draw vs. Clemson on Oct. 1, in Blacksburg.
The Hokies offense is averaging 1.69 goals scored per game, and Tech is 5-0-1 when scoring two or more goals this season. Junior forward Alani Johnson and senior Murielle Tiernan own a team-best five goals, tied for the eighth-best total in the ACC. Johnson (5 G) and Tiernan (5 G) also pace the team with 10 points each, followed by senior midfielder Candace Cephers with seven (3 G, 1 A).
Freshman goalkeeper Mandy McGylnn is credited with five of the team’s shutouts this season and ranks fifth in the ACC with 43 saves on the year.
Tech is 4-2 all-time against Syracuse and has won four of the last five contests. Of note, the Hokies have not lost to the Orange since the 2003 season, when both squads were members of the BIG EAST Conference. Last season, the Hokies captured a 3-1 decision on Sept. 27, in Blacksburg, as both Cephers and Tiernan tallied one goal apiece in the first half.
In its last outing, the Orange suffered a 4-0 setback to Duke on Oct. 2, in Durham, North Carolina. Syracuse is riding a three-game losing streak and has not won a match since concluding its nonconference slate at home against Buffalo on Sept. 15.
The Orange show six clean sheets on the season and a 1.11 GAA. Junior Courtney Brosnan is 7-4-2 on the year with 48 saves. The Orange have tallied 16 goals, with junior Eva Gordon and senior Stephanie Skillton pacing the team with three goals each.
Tech is 3-7-2 all-time against Boston College. In their last meeting, the Hokies earned a 1-0 victory over the Eagles on Sept. 22, 2013, in Newton, Massachusetts. Tech alum Katie Yensen scored the Hokies’ lone goal off a penalty kick in the 2nd minute.
BC most recently fell to N.C. State, 1-0, in Newton, Massachusetts, on Oct. 2.
Redshirt senior McKenzie Meehan leads the Eagles and is tied for second in the ACC with 20 points (9 G, 2 A), followed by senior Hayley Dowd in sixth with 15 points (6 G, 3 A).
The Eagles will play host to Florida State tomorrow evening before the Hokies come to town on Sunday.
Fans can follow all the action during each match of the 2016 season by following the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
For updates on Virginia Tech women's soccer, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WSoccer