BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech's Marika Gray scored a pair of goals and Kelly Conheeney had a goal and two assists as the Hokies topped UNC Greensboro 4-0 at the Hilton Garden Hokie Classic on Friday.
The Spartans (2-4) outshot Virginia Tech (4-2) 9-6 and held a 5-1 edge in corner kicks, but could not find the back of the net for the third time in the last four games.
The Hokies took control with three first-half goals. Gray got the scoring started in the ninth minute, converting a Conheeney pass in front of the goal to stake Virginia Tech to a 1-0 lead.
Conheeney made it 2-0 on a free kick in the 18th minute, notching her third goal on the season.
Gray and Conheeney hooked up again just before halftime, with Gray depositing a Conheeney pass into the bottom left corner of the net in the 42nd minute.
The Hokies capped the scoring in the 54th minute, with Jennifer Harvey nodding home a Julian Johnson pass.
Trailing 4-0, UNCG ramped up its offensive pressure. Casey Godwin put UNCG's first shot on frame in the 66th minute, forcing a Robin Chidester save. Freshman Tabitha Padgett followed suit, forcing another Chidester save in the 71st minute.
Senior Leigh Riordon forced Chidester's third save with 9:09 left in the contest, just moments after she checked back into the game.
Virginia Tech changed keepers in the 84th minute and UNCG immediately tested the new net-minder, drawing a corner kick less than 20 seconds later. Senior Lauren Lopez got a shot off, but Rebekah Brook was there to make her lone stop of the evening.
The Spartans continued to keep the ball in their offensive half of the field, drawing another corner kick in the 87th minute, but could not get a shot off.
UNCG held Virginia Tech without a shot for the final 36:46 of the game.
Padgett and Lopez led UNCG with two shots each.
The four goals allowed were the most surrendered by UNCG since a 5-0 loss to North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2003.
The Spartans return to action at noon on Sunday, when they will face Duquesne on the final day of the Hilton Garden Hokie Classic. The Dukes downed College of Charleston 1-0 earlier Friday.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro (2-4-0) vs. Virginia Tech (4-2-0)
Date: Sep 11, 2009 Attendance: 602
Weather: 75 and sunny
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
UNC Greensboro...... 0 0 - 0
Virginia Tech....... 3 1 - 4
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 8:29 VT Marika Gray (3) (Kelly Conheeney)
2. 17:58 VT Kelly Conheeney (3) (unassisted)
3. 41:33 VT Marika Gray (4) (Kelly Conheeney)
4. 53:14 VT Jennifer Harvey (1) (Julian Johnson)
Shots: UNC Greensboro 9, Virginia Tech 6
Saves: UNC Greensboro 0 (), Virginia Tech 4 (Rebekah Brook 1; Robin Chidester 3)
Fouls: UNC Greensboro 5, Virginia Tech 13
Corner kicks: UNC Greensboro 5, Virginia Tech 1
