Virginia Tech women’s soccer fell flat against No. 9 Clemson on Sunday, taking one shot on target in the second half of their 1-0 loss.
For 49 minutes, from the tail end of the first half stretching into the waning seconds of the match, the Hokies (6-5-3, 3-3-0 ACC) did not have a shot on goal. Tech attempted six shots during the match, five on goal, a big difference from the Tigers’ (10-1-3, 4-1-1 ACC) 17 shots, nine on target.
Clemson’s totals tied the most the Hokies allowed in a match this season, which came in a 1-0 loss at then-No. 2 North Carolina in mid-September.
“I think we struggled to get numbers forward in the attack today, as we had to defend and were on our heels a little bit from a good Clemson side,” Virginia Tech head coach Chugger Adair said after the loss.
Forward Caroline Conti scored Clemson’s lone goal in the 28th minute, receiving a pass on the ground into the 18-yard box, raising her right leg and redirecting the ball into the top right corner of the goal, catching the Hokies flat-footed.
https://twitter.com/clemsonwsoccer/status/1711112819221962782
“Clemson is a pretty quality team,” Hokies goalkeeper Alia Skinner said. “They’re a little feistier than us sometimes. … We let them score relatively early and we couldn’t get anything going forward.”
The Tigers held possession for 56% of the match, and when the Hokies did have the ball, it was in Clemson territory for just 45% of the time.
“I think we were having to defend their possession, they’re a good team in possession,” Adair said. “I think we get out of shape because we have to deal with that.”
Skinner’s eight saves were the most she totaled in a match this season, just over a week after saving seven shots against Wake Forest on Sept. 29.
The Hokies did produce some chances, though. Forward Anna Weir finished the match with two shots. Aside from Weir, defender Allie George, midfielder Lauren Gogal, forward Samantha DeGuzman and defender Eden Skyers recorded shots on goal. In the 62nd minute, forward Taylor Bryan put the ball in the net, only for referees to call a handball and reverse the goal.
“I think we needed to have more possession and just keep the ball better and then make better decisions going forward,” Hokies midfielder Natalie Mitchell said.
With four matches remaining in the regular season, Virginia Tech sits sixth in the ACC standings with nine points. Upcoming matches against Virginia (three points), No. 22 Duke (six), Miami (six) and Pitt (13) will determine whether or not the Hokies qualify for the ACC and NCAA tournaments.
“Every team in the ACC is very good,” Adair said. “We have four games remaining that are all very good teams. We’ve got to come up and have our A-game in all of those matches, whether they’re ranked or not, they’re ranked in our minds.”
Virginia Tech travels to Charlottesville on Oct. 15 to play Virginia, who it hasn’t beaten since 2018.
Box Score: No. 9 Clemson 1, Virginia Tech 0