WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary women's soccer team battled but couldn't overcome a two-goal first half deficit as they fell to No. 16 Virginia Tech 2-1 at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field on Sunday afternoon. Junior Rachel Moore tallied W&M's lone goal in the setback. With the decision, the Tribe falls to 3-2, while the Hokies improve to 5-1.
 
William & Mary just missed a chance to take an early lead in the fifth minute. Freshman Sarah Segan fired a shot that was blocked by a Hokie defender. The rebound bounced to senior Haley Kavanaugh, who fired a shot towards frame. Her chance clanked off the post, and the rebound rolled back safely to Virginia Tech goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn.
 
Virginia Tech controlled the pace and possession for the mid-part of the first half, and had a strong sequence leading up to its first goal. Lily Webber fired a pair of shots high, before Murielle Tiernan had one blocked.
 
The Hokies broke through with a goal in the 28th minute Laila Gray sent a feed into the box that found Tiernan. Tiernan was able to gain space and fire a shot from the left side into the right corner of the net.
 
Tiernan struck again just before the break with her second marker of the match. A long ball from Jordan Hemmen was able to spring Tiernan free down the right side. This time she placed her shot in the upper right of the goal, making the score 2-0.
 
The Tribe opened the second half with a pair of shots on-goal just four minutes into the period. Segan found some space and fired on frame but it was turned away by McGlynn. Moments later, junior Sami Grasso turned one on target that had to be saved as well.
 
W&M cut the deficit in half in the 63rd minute. Sophomore Mackenzie Kober was pulled down by a Hokie defender, while trying to bring down a long ball in the box, and earned a penalty kick for the Tribe. Moore stepped to the spot and ripped home her third goal of the season, making the score 2-1.
 
VT tried to extend its lead back to two goals and had a pair chances to do so in the 65th minute. Alania Johnson fired a shot in to what looked like an empty net, but redshirt junior Corinne Giroux cleared it off of the line for the team save. The rebound bounced out front to Madi Conyers, but her chance sailed high.
 
The Tribe just missed a chance to tie the score in the 70th minute. Grasso intercepted a back pass by the Hokies and played one-versus-one with the goalkeeper. The junior laid a pass back to Kober, who uncorked her shot off of the crossbar and out of play.
 
Virginia Tech finished the match with a 21-8 advantage in shots, including 10 in the second half. They also held an 8-3 advantage in shots on-goal, but redshirt junior goalkeeper Grace Smith and the Tribe defense held strong and didn't allow a goal in the second half. Smith finished the match with five saves.
 
The Green and Gold hit the road for a pair of matches next weekend. W&M travels to face in-state rival VCU on Thursday, Sept. 8, before traveling to UNC Greensboro for a contest on Sunday, Sept. 11. Kickoffs are set for 7 p.m., and 2 p.m., respectively.