BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech created several scoring chances but could not capitalize Friday night, falling to rival Virginia 1-0 at Thompson Field after conceding a goal with four minutes remaining.
Sophia Bradley scored the winner in the 86th minute, finishing a low cross from Ella Carter to break the deadlock in the Commonwealth Clash matchup.
“I think we did a lot of good things. I think we defended fairly solidly, we created chances, it was a fairly even game for much of the game,” Virginia Tech coach Chugger Adair said. “But we also need to take chances. We had four or five quality chances that we didn’t take and that’s frustrating.”
Virginia applied pressure in the midfield during the opening five minutes before the Hokies began creating opportunities through forwards Anna Weir and Eliana Salama.
Weir threatened in the ninth minute, testing Virginia goalkeeper Victoria Safradin in a one-on-one opportunity that was turned away. Salama followed with another chance in the 14th minute as Virginia Tech settled into the match.
The action opened up shortly afterward, with both teams generating opportunities. Virginia sophomore midfielder Addison Halpern helped direct the Cavaliers’ attack, finding openings with passes that challenged the Hokies’ back line.
Halpern nearly put Virginia ahead in the 29th minute when her shot from outside the penalty area struck the crossbar.
Virginia Tech came even closer with 15 seconds remaining in the half. Riley Karpinski’s right-footed shot hit the right post, then ricocheted off the crossbar before bouncing away from danger.
Despite entering halftime scoreless, the Hokies held an 8-4 advantage in shots.
Virginia Tech carried that momentum into the second half, earning the game’s first corner kick in the opening minute. The Hokies finished with five corners, all after halftime, compared with one for the Cavaliers.
Between the 50th and 60th minutes, Virginia Tech generated several opportunities to take the lead.
Midfielder Hannah Pachan delivered a cross that Weir redirected wide of the right post. Weir and Salama later combined on a quick passing sequence that forced Safradin into a save near the bottom-right corner, resulting in another Virginia Tech corner.
The Hokies also appealed for a penalty in the 59th minute after a player went down inside the penalty area. Play continued without a whistle, drawing protests from the home crowd.
Adair declined to blame the decision for the result.
“The referee is not to blame. We didn’t take our chances and that’s the bottom line,” he said.
Virginia regained momentum as the half progressed, sending dangerous crosses into the penalty area in the 62nd and 67th minutes.
The match also became increasingly physical. Virginia Tech committed two fouls within four minutes, giving the Cavaliers free kicks from roughly 10 to 15 yards outside the penalty area. Neither produced a goal.
Hokies midfielder Lilli Lubic received a yellow card for a sliding challenge in the 79th minute, joining teammate Peyton May, who was cautioned in the 38th.
Virginia eventually found the breakthrough when Carter reached the end line and sent a low cross across the face of goal. Bradley met the delivery and tapped it in to give the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead.
Weir had one final opportunity for Virginia Tech but sent her shot over the crossbar before the final whistle.
The loss dropped the Hokies to 6-4-4 overall and 2-3-1 in the ACC.
Virginia Tech next hosts Wake Forest at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Thompson Field. The Demon Deacons entered the weekend ranked No. 7 nationally with a 10-2-1 overall record and a 3-2-1 ACC mark. They were scheduled to face No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday before traveling to Blacksburg.
