Hokies Men’s and Women’s Soccer Teams Tale of Two Stories

Posted by hokieg

November 12, 2008

The Virginia Tech Women’s Soccer team got some big news on Monday when they found out they’ll be heading to the sport’s NCAA tournament. They used a run in the ACC tournament to get an at-large bid from the selection committee and will take on BYU on Thursday. The ACC tourney was a grind, and #23-ranked Virginia Tech’s two wins we’re both in shootouts after playing a 90 minute regular session, then two 15 minute overtime sessions. If you aren’t familiar with soccer, after two overtimes, games are decided by penalty kicks where teams alternate taking a series of 5 shots until someone is eliminated “extra innings” style.

For the Virginia Tech Men’s team, this years hasn’t been so fruitful.

Last year the Hokie Men’s soccer team had arguably their best year ever. Coach Oliver Weiss not only took them to the NCAA tournament, but they went 4 rounds deep until finally losing to #1 ranked Wake Forest. That team had lots of star power. This year, the team is much younger and the results less than stellar. They team went 0-8 in the ACC (granted many were one goal losses) and finished their season by losing 3-1 to NC State in the first round of the ACC tournament.

Virginia Tech unfortunately/fortunately play in the toughest soccer conference in the NCAA, both men’s and women’s. Wake Forest, Duke, UVa, Maryland, BC, Clemson all have strong men’s programs. Most of those teams have good women’s programs too, and UNC has been the women’s powerhouse in soccer forever. The ACC will send 8 women’s teams to the NCAA tourney and probably close to that many in the men’s.

But like many of the other ‘olympic’ sports, the Hokie soccer teams are benefiting tremendously from being in the ACC. Both programs are sleeping giants that are on their way to being consistent top performers. For example, the women’s team went 2-0 against UVa this year (the men lost 2-1), and they days of the UVa powerhouse dominating the soccer rivalry between the schools in both men’s and women’s is over.

Let’s wish the Hokie Women the best on Thursday in Provo!!

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