Virginia Tech Women’s Soccer Ready for the 2026 Season

Two years ago, the Virginia Tech women’s soccer program made an inspiring run to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. The veteran-laden Hokies finished that 2024 season with a 14-6-3 overall record and 6-2-2 record in the ACC.. As an at-large team, Virginia Tech defeated Tennessee, 9th-ranked UCLA, and 17th-ranked Iowa before falling 1-0 to number one ranked Duke in the quarterfinals. 

Unfortunately, a tough schedule, the graduation of so many veterans, and injuries derailed Virginia Tech’s 2025 season. Although the Hokies entered ACC play with a 4-2-2 non-conference record, they finished a winless 0-8-2 in ACC play for the first time in program history. The ACC is considered to be the toughest soccer league; indeed, 65% of the NCAA titles have been won by teams from the ACC per the Hokiesports website. During that 2024 run, nine ACC teams earned bids to the NCAA tournament with the semi-finals reached by all ACC schools. Virginia Tech faced this gauntlet last year as their ten conference games included losses to six ranked teams: 19th ranked UNC, 16th ranked Wake Forest, top ranked Virginia, then no. 1 Notre Dame, 3rd ranked Stanford, and 9th ranked Duke

The Hokies enter the 2026 season with renewed optimism, so let's take a look at the team!

THE COACHING STAFF

The coaching staff is led by head coach Charles “Chugger” Adair. Adair has been at Virginia Tech since 2006, first as the associate head coach and then as the program’s head coach starting in 2011. Adair has guided Virginia Tech to the NCAA post-season tournament in ten of his fifteen years as head coach.

Drew Kopp and Matt Gwilliam have been long-time assistant coaches under Adair. This summer. Virginia Tech added Hailey Williams to the soccer staff. In addition to having a strong background in club soccer, Williams served as an assistant coach at UMBC over the past two seasons. She comes to Virginia Tech with experience managing day-to-day training, scouting, and recruiting.

ROSTER PREVIEW

Departures

The Hokies saw several seniors depart after the 2025 season. Longtime stalwart in goal Lauren Hargove exhausted her eligibility after a final graduate year. In addition, seniors Ella Valente, Natalie Mitchell, Taylor Price, Kendall Millilo, and Maysen Nelson finished their careers at Virginia Tech.  It should be noted that Natalie Mitchell signed a professional contract with Racing Louisville of the NWSL!

Virginia Tech also lost a number of players with experience defending the midfielder and backline to the transfer portal.

Ava Arengo - Arengo, a rising senior midfielder from Cincinnati, Ohio, started 11 games and played a career high 792 minutes in 2025. She totaled 1 goal and 2 assists over her three seasons at Virginia Tech. Arengo transferred to the University of Illinois.

Kylie Marschall - Marshall, a rising senior defender from Ashburn, VA, started all 41 possible matches over the past two seasons for Virginia Tech. She was a crucial part of the defense that contributed to Virginia Tech’s march to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2024. She transferred to Illinois.

Samantha DeGuzman - DeGuzman, a senior midfielder from Manassas, Virginia, was a fixture in the Virginia Tech lineup over the past three seasons. She appeared in every game in 2025, with two starts, started in 14 of 23 games in 2024, and started in 13 games as a freshman in 2023. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2.5 years and transferred to James Madison University for her graduate season.

Ashley Vizek  - Vizek, a junior defender from Leesburg, VA, appeared in seven matches for the Hokies in 2025 and started the last five, She also transferred to Illinois with two seasons of eligibility left.

Taylor Lewin - Lewin, a junior forward from Lawrenceville, Georgia, logged extensive time over her first seasons in Blacksburg, making appearances in 34 games. She signed with the United Football League’s Gunners (located in Georgia) in the semi-professional World Premier Soccer League this past summer and is not listed on Virginia Tech’s roster for 2026.

Lauren Carpenter - Carpenter, a junior forward/defender from Warrenton, Virginia, appeared in eight games for 151 minutes during her sophomore campaign. Carpenter transferred to James Madison.

Kate Grannis -  Grannis, a junior forward, did not play in 2025 due to injury. She is not listed on the roster for the 2026 season.

Arengo, Marschall, DuGuzman, and Lewin represent significant departures for the Hokies defense given their extensive experience.

The 2026 Roster

A review of the roster makes it obvious that the Hokies are young. Of the 26 players on the roster, 16 are either sophomores or freshmen. Several are coming back from injury. Two of the factors that contributed to the 2025 season were injuries that pushed younger players into bigger roles. Now, a large group of talented sophomores, along with some key upperclassmen and freshman, form the core of the team. While this youth movement could pay dividends in the future, it could also cause growing pains this season.

Goal Keepers (3)

Lauren Hargrove started every match over the past two seasons and became the fourth goalkeeper in Virginia Tech history to reach 5,000 career minutes. She was a defensive wall anchoring the Hokie defense during its NCAA run in 2024.  Her departure left a vacuum at goalie with three candidates to take over the starting spot.

Julianna Trujillo (00) is a junior from Cocoa, Florida who transferred to Virginia Tech after two stellar seasons at Daytona State and has two seasons of eligibility remaining. She started all 44 possible games earning NJCAA First Team All-American as a freshman and sophomore. Trujillo also helped the Falcons win two straight NJCAA championships, earning the Defensive MVP of the 2025 title game. She may have seized the starting goalie spot as she started the first two games of the 2026 season, only allowing 1 goal while making 3 saves.

Savannah Sabo (0) is a senior from Cumming, Georgia who has played for the Croatian national U-19 team. She has appeared in four matches over the first three years of her Virginia Tech career, three of them last year and coming in as substitute this season for 45 minutes and a clean sheet against VMI.  Her Hokiesports.com bio indicates she is working to play professionally in Europe.

Chase Rooney (1) is a sophomore from Manassas, Virginia. After her high school career in which she won a Class 6A State Championship and State Goalkeeper of the Year honors with her high school, she has yet to appear in a match for the Hokies.

Midfielders (7)

Hannah Pachan (5), the number 68 player on the TopDrawerSoccer Midseason Top 100 Freshman List in 2025, made an immediate impact as a freshman for the Hokies. The three time high school All-American from Uniontown, Ohio started all 18 matches and was second on the team with 15 points. She returns for her sophomore year from an ACL injury suffered in last season’s finale. Pachan has already made an impact this season, scoring the winning goal against ODU and dishing out an assist against VMU.

Peyton May (4), a sophomore from Wake Forest, North Carolina, started 10 matches and appeared in 15 in 2025, including playing an extensive 799 minutes of action. May will be counted on this season to make an impact. Indeed, she started the season opener against ODU and played the full 90 minutes, including almost scoring off a header.  She followed that up with 62 minutes ahd a shot against VMI.

Johannah Bradley (22) is a freshman from Warwick, New York who was named the 2025 New England Conference Player of the Year. Bradley earned ECNL All-Conference First team awards and played in the 2025 All-American Selection Game. She earned her first two career starts, playing 54 minutes against ODU and scoring her first career goal against VMI.

Gabby Ciocca (8), a junior from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, had played in 7 matches over the past two seasons, recording one shot. She subbed into Virginia Tech’s 2026 season opener against ODU, played 44 minutes, and took a shot on goal. Ciocca followed that performance with extended minutes and a goal scored against VMI.

Syri Davis (20), a sophomore from Wake Forest, North Carolina, played in 11 matches in 2025, starting 5. She played a total of 418 minutes over the course of her initial campaign, recording one shot. She did not see action against ODU but was subbed in for 28 minutes against VMI.

Adeline Mantie (14) is a freshman from Toronto, Canada. She saw 5 minutes of action as a substitute to open the season against ODU. Per her Hokiesports.com article, she describes herself as “Very versatile. I can play many positions and have the work rate to push the entire game. I am also a playmaker who uses my speed and strength to beat defenders and play that final ball through.” 

Sofia Skuthalla (25) is a freshman from Norrkoping, Norway who subbed in for 21 minutes against VMI and had a shot against the Keydets.  She indicated that her strengths are “my goal-scoring ability and my attacking mindset. I have a strong eye for goal and have been the top scorer in my league multiple times.” Skuthalla continued in her Hokiesports.com interview with, “I also have good game understanding, which helps me find the right spaces and make smart decisions in the final third. On top of that, I am technically strong and confident using both feet, which allows me to be unpredictable and effective in attacking situations.”  

Midfielders/Defenders (2)

Ellie Robertson (7), a sophomore from Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, earned All-State honors as a high school junior and senior and won three New Jersey State Championships. She started every game as a freshman in 2025, including every minute in 13 of those games. Robertson scored a goal and delivered 4 assists as a freshman and looks to build on that in 2026. Indeed, she started and played every minute against ODU. Rovertson followed that with another start against VMI, where she scored on a penalty kick.

Annie Dehaan (2), a junior from Carlsbad, California, appeared in 18 matches, including 4 starts, over the past two seasons. She has one shot on goal for her career so far. Dehaan saw 17 minutes off the bench against VMI.

Defenders (6)

Celinne Kampman (24), a freshman from Vaerloese, Denmark, has experience playing at the international level. She played withFC Nordsjaelland for three years and FC Copenhagen for a year, when she helped Copenhagen earn promotion to Denmark top league.  Kampman has also played for the Danish senior national team. She was one of three freshmen who made their first career start against ODU and followed that with another start and 2 shots against VMI.

Madi Boutot (6), a sophomore from St-Constant, Quebec, started her career at Champlain College before arriving at Virginia Tech in 2025. She started all 18 games for the Hokies last year, playing extensive minutes while helping anchor the team’s defense. Boutot continued that role to lead off this season playing all 90 minutes against ODU and delivering an assist against VMI.

Julia Tepes (28), a sophomore from Medford, New Jersey, started 10 games as a freshman in 2025 while appearing in 15 total games. The former three-time All Conference honoree and State Championship winner in high school, Tepes played extensive minutes last season and is likely to continue to earn playing time this year, as evidenced by her coming on for 36 minutes against ODU and 58 minutes against VMI.

Bella Ganiere (13), a junior from Broomfield, Colorado, transferred to Virginia Tech after spending the first two years of her career at Utah.  She sustained an injury her freshman year after appearing in two games and didn’t appear in any games for Utah during the 2025 season. 

When asked why she chose Virginia Tech, she told Hokiesports “because it offers everything I was looking for in a school and soccer program. The combination of high-level competition, strong academics and the culture surrounding Virginia Tech really stood out to me. From the moment I visited campus, I could tell how much pride everyone takes in being a Hokie. The coaching staff made me feel valued, and I could see that they genuinely care about helping players develop both on and off the field. I wanted to be somewhere that would challenge me as an athlete while also preparing me for my future career, and Virginia Tech felt like the perfect place to do that.“

Ganiere has made enough of an impact to start her career as a Hokie by earning minutes in the season openers against ODU and VMI, including recording a shot against the Keydets.

Maya Goddard (19) is a true freshman from Enfield, Connecticut. She won All-American, All-Region, and All-State honors as a senior in high school. She did not play in the season opener, but did earn time in the second game of the year against VMI.

Christine Eiblmeyer (11) is a sophomore from Ontario, Canada. She appeared in three matches in 2025 and got time as a substitute against VMI this season.

Forwards/Midfielder (2)

Lilli Lubic (15), a sophomore from Ashburn, Virginia, transferred to Virginia Tech after a year at the University of Delaware. She started 10 games and played in 1 overall for the Blue Hens while earning First Team All-CUSA and Rookie honors as a freshman.  Lubic comes to Virginia Tech as a three time All-State honoree and winner of two Class 5 State Championships during her high school career. An important component for the Hokie roster, she started the first two games of the 2026 season.

According to the Hokiesports.com website, Lubic said she transferred to Virginia Tech “because I know it will give me the opportunity to grow not only as a soccer player but as a person. Being from Virginia, I’ve watched the Hokies for years and have always been a fan. From attending their ID camps when I was younger, I always felt the competitive environment the coaches set and the family‑like atmosphere within the team, and that feeling never left.”

Letizia Rossi (10), a sophomore from Monza, Italy, started one game and appeared in 6 matches for the Hokies in 2025 before suffering an ACL injury. A veteran of Italian club AC Milan and the U17  Italian National Team, Rossi has come back from her injury to see time as a substitute in Virginia Tech’s first two games of 2026. She scored a goal against VMI.

Forwards (6)

Anna Weir (3), a senior from Acworth, Georgia, has played in 58 games and started 41. The veteran has 13 goals and 8 assists for her career, including providing the game-tying assist to Riley Karpinski against ODU and adding an assist and a goal against VMI.

Eliana Salama (9), a graduate student from Pembroke Pines, Florida, is coming off a season-ending injury after only playing in 5 games in 2025. Transferring to Virginia Tech after three years at SMU, Salama was expected to be a goal scorer. Indeed, she finished four among the Hokies in 2025 with 8 points despite only playing in 5 games.  She comes back in 2026 looking to pick up where she left off. Indeed, she already leads the Hokies with 15 shots, provided the assist on the game-winning goal against ODU, and capped off the scoring against VMI.

See her interview with Virginia Tech's Director of Broadcasting Ethan Hughes below:

Riley Karpinski (17), a freshman from Warrington, Pennsylvania, is already making an impact at Virginia Tech. She started the first game against ODU, scoring the equalizing goal.

Lily Pantaleo (12), a sophomore from Shelby Township, Michigan, provides depth behind the top forwards. After appearing in 10 matches as a freshman in 2025, she played 44 minutes in the second game of 2026 against VMI and recorded three shots.

Sarah Rosenbaum (37), the other senior on the team, is from King George, Virginia. She transferred to Virginia Tech after her freshman season at Wisconsin and had a great 2024 season, appearing in all 23 matches and starting 18. Rosenbaum played extensive minutes during Virginia Tech’s 2024 NCAA run, including scoring the game-winning goal in the 2-0 win over then no. 7 ranked Notre Dame. She is coming off a hip injury from the 2025 season and has not played yet in 2026.

Anna Garrow (16), a sophomore from Roswell, Georgia, played in 8 matches in 2025.  The three–time GAPPSs All-State honoree was active when she was on the pitch, recording three shots in those 8 games. She has not seen action yet in 2026.

With so many talented young players, as well as newcomers, it is a new look roster that is emphasizing a team-first mentality built around hard work and togetherness.

PRE-SEASON ACC RANKINGS

The ACC released its pre-season conference rankings on August 3, 2026.  After finishing last in the 2025 season, the Hokies were picked to finish 12th out of 17 teams in 2026 by the league’s head coaches.

Notre Dame was picked to win the ACC championship. Stanford and Duke finished 2nd and 3rd in the poll whereas Florida State and North Carolina round out the top five. All five teams at the top received first place votes.

Virginia. Wake Forest, Clemson, Louisville, California, and NC State earned the next six spots in the rankings in front of Virginia Tech.

The five teams below Virginia Tech in the poll include Pitt, SMU, Boston College, Miami, and Syracuse.

No Hokies were selected to the Preseason All-ACC Team. Notre Dame and Florida State led with three players apiece. Duke and Stanford placed two players each on the roster. Louisville, North Carolina, and Wake Forest round out the selections with one player apiece.

The ACC is the strongest women’s soccer conference in the country. Five ACC teams were ranked in the top 10 and eight in the top 20 of the NCAA national rankings, with Stanford at no. 1 (despite receiving no first place votes), Notre Dame at no. 2, Duke at no. 3, Florida State at no. 5 and North Carolina at no. 8. Virginia landed at no. 11, whereas Wake Forest is no. 18 and Clemson is no. 25. Even Louisville and Cal were among the next six teams receiving votes.

2026 SCHEDULE

Yes, the 2025 Hokies suffered injuries to key players. However, Virginia Tech’s 2025 schedule was also a murderer’s row, with the Hokies facing six ranked ACC teams, four of the top 10 teams in the conference, and three of the top teams in the conference.

Virginia Tech’s 2026 schedule is more balanced and manageable. Florida State is the only team in the top 5 the Hokies will face. Virginia Tech will go up against only four nationally-ranked ACC teams. While five of its ACC opponents were voted among the top 10 teams in conference, Virginia Tech will also face four teams expected to finish below Virginia Tech in the conference standings. 

The Hokies will also play a ranked non-conference opponent in  Georgetown, currently ranked 14th in the country.

The potential is there for the Hokies to start strong and have a good season. There is room for this group to grow into the season before finishing the season with four of its final games against those ACC teams currently ranked.

SEASON OPENER / GAME 1:  VIRGINIA TECH DEFEATS ODU, 2-1

The Hokies kicked off its regular season with a 2-1 win over in-state foe Old Dominion University on August 13. 

Virginia Tech controlled the ball and pressured the Monarchs to start the match. Indeed, Virginia Tech had three shots in the first ten minutes before ODU even had a shot at the 17:51 mark. Unfortunately, that shot by ODU found the back of the net as the Hokies failed to control a clearance upfield. Despite dominating the action, Tech found itself down 1-0.

Undaunted, graduate student Eliana Salama, in her first game back from injury sustained last year, collected the ball near mid-field and played it ahead down the left sideline to Anna Weir.  The senior Weir raced to capture the ball, made a move past the defender to her right, and sent a pass across the box. Freshman Riley Karpinski, making the first start of her college career, calmly placed the ball past the ODU goalie for Karpinski’s first collegiate goal that tied the match, 1-1.

Virginia Tech almost took the lead before the end of the first half when sophomore midfielder Payton May sent a header toward goal only to see a defender clear the well-struck ball. 

The Hokies carried their momentum into the second half, dominating possession and outshooting the Monarchs 5-4. Virginia Tech broke through ODU’s defense in the 66th minute. Salama once again proved dangerous in attack from the corner. She faked a move inside, beat her defender going left, and attacked the box. After drawing a defender, Salama delivered the ball to sophomore midfielder Hannah Pachan at the top of the box. Pachan initially slipped when receiving the pass but recovered to beat her defender and knock the ball into the net to give Virginia Tech the 2-1 lead.

The physical match was closely contested. Virginia Tech had a 60 to 40% advantage in possession and took 15 shots to ODU’s 14. Anna Weir led both teams with 5 shots while Salama had 4. The two upper classmen also had the team’s two assists. Seven total Hokies served up shots. Virginia Tech had 6 corner kicks to ODU’s 2.  The match featured 26 total fouls and three yellow cards apiece for the Monarchs and Hokies.

Newcomer Julianna Trujillo played all 90 minutes in goal for Virginia Tech, making three saves while only giving up the initial goal by the Monarchs.

Game Notes (Credit to Virginia Tech Athletics):

• Virginia Tech won its six straight season opener.
• Three freshmen - Johannah Bradley, Celine Kampman, and Riley Karpinski - made their first collegiate starts.
• Transfers Lilli Lubic and Julianna Trujillo made their first starts for Virginia Tech.
• Three Hokies - Eliana Salama, Hannah Pachan, and Letizia Rossi - returned from injuries suffered in the 2025 season.

As mentioned earlier, the 2026 version of the Hokies is a young team. However significant it is or is not, the lineup for Virginia Tech’s opening against ODU is telling:

Starting Lineup Against ODU:

Julianna Trujillo - Goalie - Junior - 90 minutes

Anna Weir - Forward - Senior - 90 minutes

Peyton May - Midfielder - Sophomore - 90 minutes

Hannah Pachan - Midfielder - Sophomore - 62 minutes

Madi Boutot - Defender - Sophomore - 90 minutes

Ella Robertson - Midfielder - Sophomore - 90 minutes

Eliana Salama - Forward - Graduate Student - 85 minutes

Lilli Lubic - Forward/Midfielder - Sophomore - 59 minutes

Riley Karpinski - Forward - Freshman - 64 minutes

Johannah Bradley - Midfielder - Freshman - 54 minutes

Celine Kampmann - Defender - Freshman - 90 minutes

Substitutes:

Gabbi Ciocca - Forward/Midfielder - Junior - 44 minutes

Julia Tepes - Defender - Sophomore - 36 minutes

Bella Ganiere - Forward/Midfielder - Sophomore - 26 minutes

Letizia Rossi - Forward/Midfielder - Sophomore - 15 minutes

Adeline Mantie - Midfielder - Freshman - 5 minutes

Of the 16 players who saw action against ODU, 8 sophomores and 4 freshmen played, including the three freshman starters. Trujillo, Weir, Salama, and Ciocca were the only players who were juniors or older who got time on the field.

See the Full Game Replay of Virginia Tech's 2-1 Win Over ODU

GAME 2: VIRGINIA TECH DEFEATS VMI, 6-0

Virginia Tech followed its season opening win against ODU with a 6-0 demolition of VMI on August 16 in Blacksburg to go 2-0.

The Hokies dominated the match early and finally broke into the scoring column in the 34th minute when sophomore defender Madi Boutot delivered a long pass ahead to senior forward Anna Weir, who got behind a defender and faced the goalie head-on. Weir sent the ball into the upper right hand corner for her first goal of the 2026 season and a 1-0 Hokie first half lead.

Virginia Tech opened the second half with two quick scores. Boutot sent a pass forward off the opening kick that VMI failed to control. Hannah Pachan settled the ball and threaded a pass through several defenders to Letizia Rossi on the right side. Rossi cut back inside against the defender and put the ball past the goalie into the back of the net to give the Hokies a 2-0 lead 16 seconds into the second half.

23 seconds later, Rossi delivered the pass this time. Sophomore defender Julia Tepes got the ball on the outside and sent the ball to Rossi, who played the ball into the top of the box.  Johannah Bradley settled the ball and found her way past a crowd to slot the ball into the top right corner. Just like that, the Hokies had a 3-0 lead on back-to-back goals.

Goals kept coming. Anna Weir was tripped in the box and drew a penalty.  Sophomore Ellie Robertson took the penalty shot and sent the ball into the bottom right corner for the 4-0 lead. 

Robertson sent the ball long over the defense to Weir, who moved outside to corral the pass. Weir then spun against the defender and delivered a pass into the box to Gabby Cicocco. The junior gathered the ball, took a controlling dribble, and sent a shot toward goal that deflected off a VMI player past the goalie for the 5-0 spot.

Virginia Tech finished out the scoring when Liberty failed to clear a ball from the box. Salama found the ball in the box and knocked a grounder past the goalie into the left bottom corner. She fell to the ground in relief at her first goal since having her 2025 season shortened by her ACL injury. 

Game Notes (Credited to Virginia Tech Athletics):

• Virginia Tech outshot VMI 43-3, which broke the program’s record for shots taken (41 vs. College of Charleston in 1993).
• Virginia Tech had 6 different goal scorers.
• Johannah Bradkey, Gabby Ciocca, and Letizia Rossi scored their first career goals.
• Ellie Robertson and Anna Weir scored their first goals of the 2026 season.
• Eliana Salama posted a new program record of 11 shots.

• Head Coach Chugger Adair reached 175 career wins. He is the seventh ACC women’s soccer coach to reach 175 wins.

   

See the Full Game Replay of Virginia Tech's 6-0 Win Over VMI

NEXT UP:

Liberty comes to Thompson Field in Blacksburg on Thursday, August 20 for a game at 7:00. The Flames finished last year with a 14-4-4 overall record and won Conference USA with a 6-0-2 conference record. They also won the Conference USA post-season tournament and earned a trip to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Clemson, 2-1. The game will be broadcast live on the ACC Network Xtra.

Liberty has started its 2026 campaign with a 1-1 record after opening the season with a 2-0 victory over East Carolina before losing to No. 11 Virginia this past Sunday by an 0-2 score.

Liberty is 2-12-1 all-time against Virginia Tech, including earning a 1-1 tie last season in Lynchburg last season.