Virginia Tech soccer teams struggle in final regular season matches
The women’s and men’s soccer teams at Virginia Tech had disappointing finishes to their regular seasons. The women’s team lost 2-1 to Pittsburgh, while the men’s team suffered a 7-1 defeat against Duke. These results have left both teams with challenging paths ahead as they enter their respective tournaments.
In the women’s match against Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech fought hard but fell short. Natalie Mitchell scored a goal in the 84th minute to bring the Hokies within one, but they couldn’t find the equalizer before the final whistle. Mitchell’s goal was her ninth of the season, highlighting her impressive performance throughout the year. However, the team’s overall record of 7-8-3 and 4-6-0 in the ACC only secured them eighth place in the conference.
Similarly, the men’s team faced a tough defeat against Duke. Marcos Escoe’s goal in the 20th minute gave the Hokies hope, but they couldn’t maintain their momentum in the second half. Duke scored six goals, resulting in a decisive 7-1 loss for Virginia Tech. With a final regular season record of 4-8-4 overall and 2-5-1 in ACC play, the Hokies will enter the ACC Tournament as the 10th seed.
The volleyball team also experienced a setback, losing in three sets to seventh-ranked Pittsburgh. Ava Francis had an impressive performance with 13 kills, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for the Hokies. With a record of 12-10 overall and 2-9 in the ACC, the team will look to bounce back in their upcoming match against Virginia.
In other news, the Men’s NIT Tournament has changed its qualification rules. Regular season conference champions are no longer guaranteed spots in the tournament if they fail to win their conference tournament and reach the NCAA Tournament. Instead, the NIT will guarantee two teams from each of the major conferences, with the top two teams in the NET rankings that fail to reach the NCAA Tournament being selected. Last season, the Virginia Tech men settled for an NIT bid and lost in the first round.
Overall, the recent performances of the Virginia Tech soccer teams and volleyball team have been disappointing. As they head into their respective tournaments, they will need to regroup and find ways to bounce back.
