Collegiate Times

As hosts of the Hawthorne Suites Hokie Invitational, the Virginia Tech women's soccer team defended their turf against the No. 13 Tennessee Lady Volunteers.

Tech held off a late charge by Tennessee to win 2-1 Friday night, marking the team's second victory against a ranked opponent.

"It was a real special night for our program," said Tech head coach, Kelly Cagle.

The following day, the Hokies played to a 1-1 draw with the Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds.

Tech (2-1-1) took the early lead against the Volunteers (3-1). After receiving a pass from sophomore forward Robin Chidester, freshman forward Marika Gray scored in the 18th minute.

Shortly thereafter, Gray notched her second goal of the game with an assist from Kelly Lynch. Gray's performance helped her earn the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Player of the Week. Her two-goal game matched her career high for a single contest, when she netted a pair against Radford on Aug. 31.

"She's wanted to get better," Cagle said. "It makes you want to see her succeed knowing how hard she works."

Lady Vols midfielder Alissa Vonderhaar scored a goal at the 76th minute to bring Tennessee within one. However, the Tech (2-1) defensive stiffened. Led by redshirt-junior goalkeeper, Ashley Owens, the Hokies fended off the offensive challenges of the Lady Vols. Owens finished with seven saves and Tech held UT without a goal in the final 14 minutes of the play.

Their last upset over a ranked opponent came against No. 19 Wake Forest three years ago.

In a physical contest, the two squads combined for 22 fouls. Meanwhile, Tennessee managed 13 shots while the Hokies had 11.

The next day against Loyola (1-2-1), the Hokies were first to score yet again. Junior forward Laurie Beth Puglisi put the ball in the back of the net with some help from Chidester. Puglisi's score came 23 minutes into the match.

The Greyhounds answered back in the 56th minute when Lea Day's goal tied the game.

Both teams failed to break the deadlock in regulation or in either overtime period. The game would end in a 1-1 draw.

"We were a little bit bummed that we didn't win," Cagle said. "We didn't finish a lot of the chances that we had on Sunday."

In the overtime sessions, Loyola did not attempt a single shot, while Tech took nine. The last two came in the final minute of the contest, with one being saved by Loyola goalie Brittany Henderson and the other sailing just wide of the goal.

The Hokies out-shot the Greyhounds 25-8. Puglisi led the team with six shots and three of them being shots on goal.

Loyola, like Tech, also finished the invitational with an unbeaten mark. The Greyhounds won 2-1 over the No. 24 Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Saturday.

The Hokies next travel north to Fairfax and meet the George Mason Patriots. The match will take place on Friday at 7 p.m.