The Hokies fall in a 16-12 loss against the Clemson Tigers

Virginia Tech fell after a hard-fought battle with Clemson, losing 16-12. Olivia Vergano and Maura O’Malley were both able to clinch a hattrick, but it was not enough to power the Hokies to the win.

Vergano opened up the scoring for the game with an 8-meter goal just a minute into the game. Clemson’s Bella Martire and Hanna Hilcoff quickly responded with a goal a piece. The draw was a hard-fought battle between both teams, making it a competitive match-up. The Tigers, being one of the best clearing teams in the nation, were quickly moving the ball up the field with no challenge. Vergano responded once again, tying the game up with around ten minutes left in the first. Maura O’Malley produced a goal when Clemson’s Belle Martire received a yellow card for a dangerous shot. Claire Schotta for the Hokies also put a point up the goal to put the Hokies in the lead. Bella Martire, coming off of a yellow card, scored with five seconds left in the first quarter to bring the score to 4-3 in favor of Virginia Tech.

At the beginning of the second quarter, O’Malley came in quickly with an 8-meter goal, but Hilcoff of the Tigers responded quickly. Vergano scored 11 seconds after Hilcoff to complete her hat trick. Martire had another goal, and O’Malley scored once again to complete her hat trick. Clemson brought the heat for the rest of the half with three goals, scored by Marina Miller, Hanna Hilcoff, and Gianna New. Hilcoff, the Oregon Ducks transfer, had a shot and goal attempt at the end of the shot clock, but after review, the officials deemed it “no goal” because the shot was fired after the shot clock had sounded. At the end of the first half, Clemson was hanging onto the lead 8-7 against the Hokies,

Clemson brought the heat in the second half, with Marina Miller scoring once again for the Tigers. Caroline Little, for the Hokies, put in a strong effort for the entire game, running the ball up the field and dodging defenders to get the ball past the 30-yard restraining line. When Gianna New received a yellow card, the Hokies had many scoring attempts, but to no avail. Kayla Frank, Vergano, Rishko, and Schotta all had shots on goal. Ella Rishko was able to put one on the board, but not during the man-up advantage. Hilcoff was quick to respond with two goals around two minutes apart from one another. O’Malley and Vergano responded to these goals. Gianna New scored for the Tigers during the last two minutes of the quarter, bringing the score 12-10 in favor of Clemson.

Hannah Mardiney was able to produce a goal for the Hokies during the first two minutes of the quarter. There was even play from the two teams, but Rishko put another point on the board with 8 minutes left to end the scoring for the Hokies. Clemson had goals from Chloe Willard, Gianna New, Hanna Hilcoff, and Marina Miller to bring the game's final score to 16-12 in favor of Clemson.