WOMEN'S SOCCER WINS TWO IN WAKE
The Virginia Tech women's soccer team upset No. 21 Cal State-Fullerton 3-0 last Friday evening to start the Wake Forest Tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Hokies got on the board quickly with a goal from junior Emily Jukich in the 14th minute, assisted by redshirt freshman Stephanie Hylton.
The goal came from 16 yards out and was well placed in the left side of the net.
The Hokies went into the half with a 1-0 advantage, but more goals were to come. Hylton scored the first goal of her career in the 53rd minute off of a penalty kick. Sophomore Niki King padded the lead for Tech, denying any possible comeback from the Titans. After receiving a long kick from freshman goalkeeper Kristen Carden, she broke away from the defense and beat the goalie from 12 yards out.
Carden recorded her second straight shutout after taking over goalkeeping duties after blanking George Washington in her previous start.
The Hokies came out strong again on Sunday, beating the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 5-1. The Tech offense was shut out in the first half, but was fueled by a pair of goals from senior Laurie Beth Puglisi, who finished the match with five points.
The Hokies also netted goals from freshman Brittany Michels and juniors Jukich and Julian Johnson as they extended their winning streak to three games.
Sophomore Jennifer Harvey made the All-Tournament team along with Jukich, Puglisi and Carden. Tech had five players score their first goals of the season in their two victories over the weekend. Kelly Cagle celebrated her 100th match as Tech's head coach, compiling a record of 45-45-10 thus far. The Hokies' next match will be Sunday at 7 p.m. against James Madison University in Blacksburg at Thompson Field.
-- Justin Long
WOMEN'S TENNIS OPENS SEASON AT PRINCETON
The Virginia Tech women's tennis team opened up play this season at the Princeton Invitational featuring players from Buffalo University, the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University.
The three-day event started Friday with the Hokies taking three of five doubles matches against host team Princeton, followed by a sweep of three doubles matches against Buffalo. Highlighting the opening day was the pair of senior Jessica Brouwer and sophomore Holly Johnson as they won their match, 8-6.
Day two of the tournament showcased singles action, which resulted in a mixed outcome for the Hokies. Tech was able to sweep seven singles matches versus Buffalo, thanks to the play of seniors Inga Beermann and Abbey Walker. However, Tech only took three of nine singles contests against Princeton. Also on day two, Tech was able to sweep all three doubles matches including wins against Princeton and Penn.
On Sunday, the Tech women's tennis team concluded play with a strong finish. Tech was able to dominate the singles results as it finished with the top three singles players: freshman Courtney Rauscher (6-1, 6-2), Walker, and Beermann (6-2, 7-5). The doubles matches did not fair as well, as Tech lost two to Princeton, 8-6 and 8-3.
The Hokies will look to continue their initial success as they travel to Boulder, Co., on Sept. 19-21, to participate in the Colorado Fall Invitational.
-- Matt Collette
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL NABS TRIO OF WINS
The Virginia Tech women's volleyball team won three matches over the weekend in the Arkansas Invitational to take home its second tournament championship of the season.
Tech played its first game of the tournament on Friday, defeating University of Tennessee-Martin in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23, 25-16.
Despite the apparent easy victory, the match was tight throughout. The Hokies needed rallies in the second and third sets in order to secure the match.
The Hokies won twice on Saturday, with their first win coming against Lamar: 25-16, 25-17, 18-25, 23-25, 15-13. Tech cruised in the early portion of the match, going up by two sets, but Lamar battled back to tie the match. They were able to force a fifth and deciding set before ultimately losing the match to the Hokies.
In its last match of the tournament, Tech defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks of the Southeastern Conference in five sets, 25-23, 19-25, 25-16, 19-25, 15-7.
The teams traded sets and the match went to a fifth set, but Tech went on a run after going down 4-1 early to win the final set and clinch the tournament championship.
Sophomore middle blocker Felicia Willoughby was named the tournament's most valuable player and junior Jill Gergen and freshman Justine Record made the all-tournament team.
The Hokies will travel again this weekend to Wilmington, N.C., to participate in another tournament before opening conference play at home against UVa on Sept. 23 at Cassell Coliseum.
--Joe Crandley
BLUE DEVILS AND RED STORM TOP MEN'S SOCCER
Tech's No. 22 men's soccer team lost to Duke, 3-1, on Friday night at home and to No. 11 St. John's, 3-0, Sunday night in Queens, N.Y.
Freshman defender Tobias Hottner scored his first goal of the season early in the second half of Friday night's match versus Duke. It proved insufficient, however, as Blue Devil senior midfielder Mike Grella scored two unanswered goals to cap the game. In the win, Duke out-shot the Hokies 19-6. It was the first in-conference match of the season for the Hokies.
"There was a complete lack of determination during several parts of the game," said head coach Oliver Weiss. "We showed a little fight and tied the game early in the second half. After we allowed the second goal though it was like we had nothing left in the tank."
Sunday night's match at St. John's saw the Hokies get shut out for the first time this season. Junior goalkeeper Brendan Dunn made two saves in 81 minutes of play before he was relieved by Stefan Caulfield. The junior recorded one save against the Red Storm. Freshman forward Emmanuel Akogyeram led the Hokies' offense with two shots.
Tech will wait five days until heading to Clemson for a conference meeting with the Tigers. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
-- Ed Lupien
MEN'S TENNIS PLAYS AT UVA
The Virginia Tech men's tennis team played in a tournament hosted by ACC rival Virginia.
The UVa Invitational had featured Hokies with the doubles-A pair of sophomore Sebastien Jacques and junior Yoann Re and the doubles-B pair composed of freshman duo Patrick Daciek and Zachary Pine.
Jacques and Re pulled off several upsets throughout the tournament, defeating the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds and advancing to the final on Sunday.
They fell just short of victory when they lost 9-8 to the top-seeded pair, Virginia's Barrick/Singh.
Daciek/Pine also fared well in the tournament, reaching the doubles-B consolation final and eventually losing to the pair of Robinson/Smith from James Madison.
The pair of freshmen lost its consolation match, 8-5. Representing the Hokies in the singles event was junior Eduardo Pinto. Pinto was strong all weekend and on Sunday competed in the singles consolation match.
He topped Andy Erickson from George Washington 6-1, 6-2 to clinch the victory. Also, junior Preston Lemon made it to the preliminary consolation final but eventually lost that match.
The team reportedly plans to split up next weekend, sending players to the Southern Intercollegiates in Athens, Ga., and the Steve Baras Collegiate Invitational in Chattanooga, Tenn.
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