For the fifth time this year, the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team outshot its opponent, but for the first time in 2018, the Hokies came up on the losing side of one of those matches. Alabama took advantage of a Tech own goal to hand Tech its first loss of the year, 1-0, at UA Soccer Complex on Thursday night.
Alabama (2-2-1) took the one-goal advantage in the 16th minute when Taylor Morgan crossed the ball into the Hokies’ box, which was inadvertently headed by a Tech defender into its own goal. Crimson Tide goalkeeper Alex Plavin would make five saves over the final 65 minutes of action to keep a clean sheet.
The Hokies (2-1-2) had five players combine for 10 shots, opposed to Alabama’s seven, but could not find the back of the net. Karlie Johnson led the team with two shots on goal, while goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn collected four saves on the night.
“It was a difficult match tonight at Alabama. I think we came out and played some very good soccer at times and possessed very well. I’m a little bit frustrated with the result because I think we deserved more from the match than we got. We gave up an own goal midway through the first half left us chasing the match and trying to do what we could to break them down, it was difficult. It was a bit unlucky and unfortunate and frustrating that we were on the road and could have won a game against a good team, but we can’t get the result. So, a bit frustrated with that, but we’ll move on to face Georgia in a big match on our way home on Sunday.”
This was Tech’s first ever match played in the state of Alabama and the first ever contested against the Crimson Tide.
The Hokies are now 7-6-1 all-time against current teams in the SEC.
The loss to Alabama is the first for the Hokies under head coach Chugger Adair in the month of August – they had been 28-0-5 entering the match.
The last time Tech lost in the month was Aug. 29, 2010 versus Long Best State (2-1).
Junior Jaylyn Thompson started her 33rd straight match for Tech, the longest consecutive streak on the team.
Now, just three Hokies have played all 490 minutes of the season: McGlynn, Thompson and Kelsey Irwin, as Alia Abu El Hawa was subbed out near the end of the first half.
Six Hokies have started all five matches this year, the four above, Hemmen and Gray.
Freshman Mathilda Lindström made her collegiate debut in the contest.
Tech completes its SEC swing by returning to action on Sunday, Sept. 2 with a 2 p.m. start against the Georgia Bulldogs. The game will be available on SEC+.