Virginia Tech’s Stunning Late Comeback Over No. 6 Florida State in Women’s Soccer

On Sunday evening, Thompson Field was buzzing with excitement as fans witnessed something unprecedented: Virginia Tech defeating Florida State in women’s soccer.

However, this wasn’t a typical performance from the Hokies. The usual possession-based style that often characterizes Tech’s play was nowhere to be seen, as both teams struggled to find rhythm. The first half saw more yellow cards (five) than quality shots on goal (six), reflecting the intensity and chaotic nature of the match.

Each first-half foul seemed to raise the stakes, as the game grew increasingly aggressive. Players became more reckless, and the crowd’s energy ramped up in response to every hard tackle.

Despite the heightened tension, it appeared that Florida State was heading for a comfortable win. The No. 6 team in the nation took control in the second half, and when Lara Dantas curled a perfect 67th-minute strike past Tech goalkeeper Lauren Hargrove, doubling Florida State’s lead, it felt as though the game was slipping away from the Hokies.

With just over 20 minutes left on the clock, Florida State seemed poised to seal a decisive victory against a Virginia Tech side coming off a draw with Miami. Tech struggled to break through Florida State’s resolute defense, and the few chances they created were easily snuffed out by the Seminoles’ backline. The Hokies’ approach—sitting deep and trying to counterattack—appeared ineffective against such a well-structured defense.

Florida State’s dominance was further emphasized when a penalty, converted by Jordynn Dudley, extended their lead to two goals early in the second half. With a comfortable advantage, it seemed as though the match was all but over.

But in soccer, a two-goal lead is often called the most dangerous, and Sunday’s game was about to prove why.

With 11 minutes left, Anna Weir floated a perfect lob into the box, where Taylor Price redirected it with a header toward Sarah Rosenbaum, who finished with another header into the net. The sudden goal re-energized both the team and the crowd.

Then, just moments later, Natalie Mitchell found the back of the net with a volley after a brilliant header from Price. The Hokies thought they had equalized in a remarkable sequence of events. But, after a lengthy video review, the goal was disallowed due to an offside call, leaving Virginia Tech still trailing by a goal with only 10 minutes remaining.

Despite the disappointment, Virginia Tech refused to lose momentum. Their persistence paid off in the 84th minute when a well-executed set piece from Eden Skyers found sophomore defender Kylie Marschall, who headed the ball past Florida State goalkeeper Addie Todd to level the score at 2-2.

The Hokies’ determination didn’t stop there. With just three minutes left, another long ball into the box was cushioned by Mitchell’s header, setting up Price for a near-post strike that gave Virginia Tech a stunning 3-2 lead.

“We kept pressing, got a little more direct with our play, and the ladies came together,” said coach Charles “Chugger” Adair after the match.

Adair’s tactical shift from a counter-attacking approach to a more direct long-ball strategy proved crucial in the closing stages of the game, ultimately setting up the decisive goal.

Virginia Tech’s remarkable comeback left Florida State shell-shocked and sealed a memorable victory for the Hokies. Up next, they face SMU on Thursday, where Adair will likely be hoping for a more straightforward result.