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unsung hero, so that’s something we’ll have to look at as well. Who
is going to be at the center of the park and be that leader on the field
and be the battler?”
Adair and his staff began the process of finding answers during the
Hokies’ spring schedule and resumed that process Aug. 2 when the
team opened fall practice.
The committee to replace Tiernan includes Alani Johnson and
Madi Conyers, two of the six seniors on the roster. Johnson brings
experience, having played in 61 games in her career. Plus, she knows
how to score. She finished second on the team with six goals last
season and has scored 20 in her career.
Conyers, who is the only returning player to have started all 19
games last season, scored two goals a year ago. She plays in the
midfield, but certainly possess an ability to score.
“Alani is more of a target forward,” Adair said. “She’s good with
her back to the goal. She’s consistently dangerous in the box, similar
to Murielle.
“Madi is more of a flank player. She can play in the midfield, she
can play up front, and she’s really dynamic and good in one versus
one. She can create for others in addition to herself. They’re huge as
we move forward in how we play and progress.”
Others in the mix include forwards Kallie Peurifoy and Bridget
Patch. Peurifoy missed nearly all of last season with a leg injury—she
played in just two games—but she received a medical hardship
waiver and returns as a fifth-year senior with 54 career games under
her belt (20 starts). She has scored two goals and recorded five assists
in her career. Patch played extensively as a true freshman last season
and tallied a goal and an assist.
“Missing Kallie last year hurt us because she’s an attacking
personality who is good on the ball and dangerous on set pieces,”
Adair said. “She’s good out wide as well, so we’re glad to get
her back.”
Those in the mix to replace Cephers include a bevy of players,
but midfielders Laila Gray and Kristina Diana certainly warrant
discussion. Diana scored two goals and dished out two assists in 10
starts as a sophomore last season. Gray started 15 games and finished
with a team-best four assists.
Adair planned on spending plenty of time on the defensive half
of the field during the preseason. Tech’s defense struggled at times
last season, largely in part because of inexperienced defenders and a
freshman goalkeeper.
In fact, Adair cited a game at Miami as an example of a defensive
mistake that proved costly. The Hokies led 1-0 with five minutes
remaining, but Miami scored a soft goal and then won in the second
overtime. That loss, which came in the next-to-last game of the
season, probably cost the Hokies more than any other.
“We made too many mistakes in the back and gave up too many
easy goals,” Adair said. “We weren’t as clean defensively as we needed
to be throughout the games. We had a freshman goalkeeper and a
young back line, so being a little cleaner defensively will be important
to us. I think we just gave up too many easy goals defensively.”
Experience figures to make the Hokies better on the back line.
A year ago, Kelsey Irwin, a redshirt sophomore, was in her first
season as a starter, and Jaylyn Thompson started 13 games as a true
freshman. Alia Abu El Hawa started 11 games as a sophomore—and
all of them return. Adair expects them to be better.
They’ll be playing in front of goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn, who
started 16 games as a true freshman. She gave up 19 goals and
finished with 58 saves.
McGlynn missed a three-game stretch in late October while competing for the U.S. Women’s U-18
National Team in Ireland—and Tech did not win a game in her absence. This season, though, Adair expects
no conflicts with McGlynn’s national team schedule.
“I think she was consistently very good for us,” Adair said of McGlynn. “Just having her leadership and her
ability to read the game a little more and be a little more vocal …we’re expecting her to continue that growth.”
In addition to finding scoring punch and improving on the defensive side of the pitch, Adair and his staff
want to see better execution from set pieces and more tempo. Under Adair, the Hokies have played their best
when they push the pace and attack. The Hokies like to set the tone for a game.
Will they be able to play that way this season, especially without Tiernan and Cephers?
INSIDE
T H E N U M B E R S
10
Mandy McGlynn’s 58
saves
in goal were tied for
10th in the ACC last season.
9
Virginia Tech has won
at least 10 games
for nine
consecutive seasons.
8
The Hokies had eight
assists
in 10 ACC games in
2016.
7
Seven returning players
made at least 10 starts for the
Hokies last fall.
6
Alani Johnson’s six goals
ranked second on the team in
2016 and are the most among
returning players.
5
Mandy McGlynn
recorded
five shutouts last fall.
4
Laila Gray’s four assists
led the team last year.
3
Three of Alani Johnson’s
six goals
in 2016 were game
winners.
2
Only two of Virginia
Tech’s returning players
–
Alani Johnson and Kristina
Diana–scored goals
in ACC matches a year ago.
1
Madi Conyers’ 46 career
starts
rank No. 1 on the 2017
roster.
inside.hokiesports.com41
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