Since the beginning of the season back in August, there has been something special about the 2024 version of the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team. As the season went along, they got better and better with each game and pulled off upsets of ranked ACC foes Florida State and Notre Dame. Despite being eliminated in the ACC Tournament early, that hasn’t stopped them from putting together a memorable run through the NCAA Tournament.
Virginia Tech drew a home match in the first round against Tennessee and beat the Vols, 2-1, to advance to the second round in Los Angeles. After upsetting second-seeded UCLA Friday night, 2-1, they completed their cross-country trip in style on Sunday night beating third-seeded Iowa, 1-0, to advance to the Elite Eight.
Virginia Tech women’s soccer is Elite Eight bound
As has been the case several times throughout the season, the Hokies were locked in a tight match with a talented opponent and bent several times but never broke. In the 80th minute, Natalie Mitchell scored the lone goal of the match when her shot from the right side drifted over the head of the Hawkeyes keeper in the far corner for her fourth goal of the season and her third game-winner.
ALLIE GEORGE. OUT OF THIS WORLD. pic.twitter.com/1iSGPbEDHm
— Virginia Tech Women's Soccer (@HokiesWSoccer) November 25, 2024
Hokies keeper Lauren Hargrove stopped everything Iowa threw her way, including a huge save off a free kick in the 88th minute, sending the Hokies to Durham, N.C. on Saturday night to play top-seeded Duke at 6 o’clock with a trip to the College Cup on the line for the winner. Six out of the eight teams remaining in the tournament are ACC schools, which shows just how strong the conference is year in and year out with this season proving it even more. This is Virginia Tech’s first trip to the Elite Eight since 2013 when they advanced to the College Cup.