Women's soccer falls at No. 21 Virginia Tech, 1-0
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2024 1:54 pmFrom SMUMustangs.com:
Mustangs Fall at No. 21 Virginia Tech, 1-0
BLACKSBURG, Va. (SMU) — The SMU women's soccer program battled No. 21 Virginia Tech till the very end but fell 1-0 on the road Thursday at Thompson Field.
In a physical match that saw the Mustang ring multiple shots off the post, a second-half goal from the Hokies proved to be the difference in the tightly contested defensive battle.
In the first half, the match was back-and-forth, as the Mustangs controlled the pace of play and held Virginia Tech to only four shots. The second half belonged to the Hokies as they sent 11 shots towards the net and scored the match's only goal. SMU had a couple of runs at goal, but only one materialized into a scoring opportunity as Liz Eddy sent a shot off the left post.
Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde finished the game with four saves on 15 shots faced (five on goal). Late in the second half Cota-Yarde made an emphatic diving save to give the Mustangs a chance at equalizing the match.
SMU is now 6-6-2 (2-3-2 ACC) this season, while the Hokies improved to 10-3-2 (5-1-1 ACC) on the year. Thursday's match was the first ever meeting between the two programs.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a physical match right from the first kick as the Mustangs ended the match with 19 fouls to Virginia Tech's nine.
SMU used its physical play to its advantage in the first half, holding Virginia Tech to just four shots and both teams ended the frame with a save a piece.
After dribbling into the middle of the box Eliana Salama sent a shot right off the crossbar in the 14th minute. It was SMU's best opportunity in half as match remained scoreless heading into halftime.
Virginia Tech turned up the pressure in the second half coming of the break firing on offense as they rattled off 11 shots to SMU's one in the period.
Liz Eddy provided the Mustangs best chance in the second half as she gathered the ball deep in the box before spinning around a defender and sending a shot of the left post and out of play.
The Hokies would break the scoreless tie in the 64th minute as Virginia Tech's Taylor Price headed in the matches only goal.
Kelly Gordon had a breakout late in the match as she sped past her defender and got behind the back line, but the feed into the box was just out of her reach as she only had the goalkeeper to beat.
// OTHER NOTES
No. 21 Virginia Tech was the fourth straight-ranked opponent that SMU has faced.
SMU is now 0-1-2 on the road this season and will take on No. 25 Virginia in Charlottesville on Sunday.
In her third season as head coach of the Mustangs, Nicole Nelson is now 27-16-8 overall.
The Mustangs are now 468-246-61 all-time in program history.
Mustangs Fall at No. 21 Virginia Tech, 1-0
BLACKSBURG, Va. (SMU) — The SMU women's soccer program battled No. 21 Virginia Tech till the very end but fell 1-0 on the road Thursday at Thompson Field.
In a physical match that saw the Mustang ring multiple shots off the post, a second-half goal from the Hokies proved to be the difference in the tightly contested defensive battle.
In the first half, the match was back-and-forth, as the Mustangs controlled the pace of play and held Virginia Tech to only four shots. The second half belonged to the Hokies as they sent 11 shots towards the net and scored the match's only goal. SMU had a couple of runs at goal, but only one materialized into a scoring opportunity as Liz Eddy sent a shot off the left post.
Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde finished the game with four saves on 15 shots faced (five on goal). Late in the second half Cota-Yarde made an emphatic diving save to give the Mustangs a chance at equalizing the match.
SMU is now 6-6-2 (2-3-2 ACC) this season, while the Hokies improved to 10-3-2 (5-1-1 ACC) on the year. Thursday's match was the first ever meeting between the two programs.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a physical match right from the first kick as the Mustangs ended the match with 19 fouls to Virginia Tech's nine.
SMU used its physical play to its advantage in the first half, holding Virginia Tech to just four shots and both teams ended the frame with a save a piece.
After dribbling into the middle of the box Eliana Salama sent a shot right off the crossbar in the 14th minute. It was SMU's best opportunity in half as match remained scoreless heading into halftime.
Virginia Tech turned up the pressure in the second half coming of the break firing on offense as they rattled off 11 shots to SMU's one in the period.
Liz Eddy provided the Mustangs best chance in the second half as she gathered the ball deep in the box before spinning around a defender and sending a shot of the left post and out of play.
The Hokies would break the scoreless tie in the 64th minute as Virginia Tech's Taylor Price headed in the matches only goal.
Kelly Gordon had a breakout late in the match as she sped past her defender and got behind the back line, but the feed into the box was just out of her reach as she only had the goalkeeper to beat.
// OTHER NOTES
No. 21 Virginia Tech was the fourth straight-ranked opponent that SMU has faced.
SMU is now 0-1-2 on the road this season and will take on No. 25 Virginia in Charlottesville on Sunday.
In her third season as head coach of the Mustangs, Nicole Nelson is now 27-16-8 overall.
The Mustangs are now 468-246-61 all-time in program history.