George’s strike sends Hokies to Elite Eight

LOS ANGELES – The seventh-seeded Virginia Tech women’s soccer team defeated the third-seeded and 17^th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes 1-0 Sunday night from Wallis Annenberg Stadium on the campus of UCLA. It was defender Allie George’s strike in the 80^th minute that was the difference as the Hokies advanced into the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time since 2013.

Iowa’s season ends with a record of 15-3-4.

 How it Happened
The match began as a cagey affair with most of the action taking place in the middle of the park with Natalie Mitchell’s shot in the 14^th minute being the first real opportunity that went just over the bar.

Tech was on the front foot with Mitchell again taking a shot from the top right of the box and that went across the face of goal just missing the post.

As was the case in the last round, the match was tied 0-0 after the first 45 minutes.

In the second period both teams pressed to find the net, and the Hawkeyes nearly did, hitting the post off the foot of midfielder Millie Greer.

But the breakthrough belonged to the Hokies as George who was marauding up the flank all night, scored in the 80^th minutes after her initial cross was sent back to her and her right-footed effort flew over Hawkeye keeper Macy Enneking’s outstretched arms and settled into the side netting.

It was her fourth goal of the season and third game winner.

Lauren Hargrove secured the clean sheet with a save off a free kick with just over 90 seconds to play as the Hokies saw off the rest of the time on the clock.

Game Notes
•Tech is now 16-13-1 in all-time NCAA Tournament matchups
•The Hokies are now 1-0-0 against Iowa
•Tech’s defense earned their 11^th shutout of the season. It was only Iowa’s third game this season being kept scoreless.

Up Next
Seventh-seeded Virginia Tech (14-5-3, 6-2-2 ACC) will face top-seeded Duke (17-2-1, 9-0-1 ACC) next weekend on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m.

The clubs did not meet in the ACC’s regular season, which Duke won outright with their 9-0-1 mark. The Blue Devils are 11-0-1 at home at Koskinen Stadium thus far in 2024.