October 27, 2016
Tech nets win in regular-season finale
The Hokies earned a 1-0 victory over the Demon Deacons on Thursday night
12F
Wake Forest (10-8-0) 000
Virginia Tech (11-5-3) 101
  • Thompson Field - 457

BLACKSBURG – The seniors of the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team earned a win in their final career regular-season game, as senior forward Murielle Tiernan scored the game winner to help the Hokies defeat Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) foe Wake forest, 1-0, on Thursday evening, at Thompson Field.

Tonight was the final regular-season home match for Jordyn Brock, Candace Cephers, Sydney Curtis, Bria Dixon, Blayne Fink, Marie Johnston and Tiernan.

Though Tiernan’s goal helped deliver Tech’s win, it was the Hokies (10-5-3, 2-4-3) stout defensive effort that solidified the victory, as the squad held Wake Forest to just five shots in 90 minutes of play. The Hokies finished with a 13-5 edge in shots and placed seven on-frame. Tech also finished with a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Freshman goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn played all 90 minutes between the posts and only had to make one save for the team’s seventh shutout of the season. The Demon Deacons’ (10-8-0, 2-8-0) junior goalkeeper Lindsay Preston finished with six saves.

Tiernan’s game-winner was her fifth of the season, as she sits on top of Tech’s all-time list with 23 game-winning goals. The Ashburn, Virginia, native now shows a team-best 10 goals.

Knotted at 0-0 after 35 minutes, Tiernan made sure her third shot of the game counted, as she put a pretty flick from just outside the six away from the reach of Preston’s hands toward the far corner. The score came off a beautiful cross from sophomore midfielder Kristina Diana, her second helper of the year.

Junior forward Laila Gray nearly gave the Hokies the early lead in the 17th minute, but could not get the ball past the outstretched hands of Preston. Preston’s fingertips softly touched the ball, as it hit the crossbar and rolled behind the net for her first save of the game.

Cephers also was awarded a penalty kick in the 30th minute and came within inches of giving Tech a one-goal advantage, but her shot cruelly bounced off the crossbar and sailed out of play.

Tiernan finished with a game-best six shots, placing four on goal.

HEAD COACH CHUGGER ADAIR QUOTES

“The first thing I noticed was the effort that the girls put forth in 90 minutes of play tonight. It was a good, solid effort. That was something that we can hang our hats on and try to build off of.”

“Wake is a very good team. They have been very unlucky this year. A lot of 1-0 losses and some breaks haven’t gone their way. They are a very good team. Tony is a very good coach, and it has been a hard year for them as far as getting the results. They are in it every match. Notre Dame won our conference, and they gave up a goal with two minutes to go in regulation the other day. Any game can go either way in the ACC.”

“I think they (seniors) played well. They played hard. Murielle led the charge as far as her passion and her energy up top, which is good. She played hard, and she was aggressive. We like that. It feds into the rest of the team. Candace was solid all year, and she did her job in the middle. She was solid with her effort tonight, and Sydney played well at center back. The seniors lead the way for sure.”

NOTES

The Hokies are 7-6-2 all-time against the Demon Deacons and have won four of the last five meetings … Tech is 3-3-1 against Wake Forest at home and 4-1-1 against the Demon Deacons under head coach Chugger Adair … Tech has not lost to Wake Forest since 2014 … Tech is 7-0-1 when scoring two or more goals this season … With today’s game, Tiernan is now tied for seventh all-time in games played with 87 matches … Tiernan (10 G) owns a team-best 10 goals, pacing the team with 20 points, followed by junior forward Alani Johnson with 12 points (6 G).

NEXT UP

While Tech has been eliminated from ACC Tournament contention, its NCAA Tournament hopes are still alive thanks to clinching a winning record. The NCAA Division I Selection Show will air on Nov. 7 at 4:30 p.m.

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