RALEIGH, N.C. – Virginia Tech broke open a tight match Sunday afternoon with two late goals to earn a 3-0 win over NC State in Atlantic Coast Conference women’s soccer action from Dail Soccer Field.

Three days after the Wolfpack won 2-1 over No. 14 Virginia, the home team gave a great effort today, but in the end the club didn’t come out with result it was looking for and evened its league record to 1-1 and moves to 6-3-1 overall.

“I thought we fought hard,” said senior captain Katie Ruiz. “We had our opportunities, but didn’t put them away today.”

Virginia Tech (8-2, 2-0 ACC) took a 1-0 halftime lead after Emily Jukich broke through with a goal at the 25:51 mark. Hokie forward Marika Gray raced down the left side and sent a pass into the 6-yard box that Jukick slid onto and put in the net.

The match remained back-and-forth with neither club able to muster many really good scoring chances as they went to battle in the middle third of the field.

Wolfpack midfielder Jessica Herrmann had a good look at goal just before intermission, but her hard shot went just over the crossbar and got stuck in the netting.

In the 62nd minute Kara Blosser put a header near net, but Hokie keeper Kristin Carden was in the right position for one of her four saves in the match.

About three minutes later Virginia Tech’s Kelly Conheeney rang her shot off the crossbar that would have given the visitors a two-goal cushion.

Conheeney’s persistence paid off at the 78:06 mark when she blasted a shot past keeper Kim Kern (five saves) for a 2-0 lead.

Desperate for more offensive chances, NC State pushed forward, but could not break the defensive back line that stood tall all afternoon for Virginia Tech.

The Hokies sealed the win when Brittany Popko scored her first of the season in the 86th minute.

“I think in a lot of areas where similar (to Virginia Tech),” Wolfpack coach Steve Springthorpe said. “But they finished their opportunities and we didn’t. We generated some shots, but we didn’t finish in a timely manner like we’ve been doing (this season).

“Virginia Tech is a good team and hopefully we get a little bit better on Thursday for Clemson.”


NC State hosts the Tigers at Dail Soccer Field at 7 p.m.



AGATE

Goals by period 1       2       Tot
Virginia Tech           1       2       3
NC State                0       0       0

SCORING SUMMARY:
1       25:51   VT      Emily Jukich (3) (Marika Gray)
2       78:06   VT      Kelly Conheeney (6) (Stephanie Hylton)
3       85:55   VT      Brittany Popko (1) (Sloane Levin)

Shots: Virginia Tech 12, NC State 10
Saves: Virginia Tech 4 (Kristin Carden 4), NC State 5 (Kim Kern 5)