New River Valley Times

Four new names will be added to the roster of the Virginia Tech women's soccer next season.

Although the Hokies had a losing record this fall, the team was one of the youngest competing in the ACC and faced a difficult schedule. Virginia Tech managed to complete 13 games during a season dominated by the COVID-19 outbreak, ending 5-8 overall and 4-4 against conference teams.

"The season was unique with everything going on in the world. It was definitely unique for our student-athletes, who have been through a lot with the uncertainty," head coach Charlie 'Chugger' Adair told the hokiesports.com website. "It was very challenging, but I am very proud of our student-athletes with how they've grown, how they've developed and how they dealt with the situation throughout the year. They bought in to being student-athletes."

He added: "Having a very young team has been even more challenging as we try to grow and rebuild our program this year.

"Having 10 freshmen has been great for the group, but also challenging as we go through the whole COVID-19 year."

Adair praised the ACC for its work in managing to put together a schedule for the season and allowing playing time for student-athletes. 

"Looking at the soccer side of things, we were thrown right into the mix with a young group, playing one of the most difficult schedules in the country," Adair said. "I'm very pleased with how we responded." 

Among the new recruits for 2021 is Sophie Maltese, from Ashburn, Virginia. The 5-foot-7-inch forward attends Briar Woods High School and expects to major in business during her time at Virginia Tech.

As a club player for McLean ECNL during 2019-20, Maltese was fifth leading goal scorer and helped it to a No. 2 national ranking, according to TopDrawer Soccer in October 2020.

"Sophie is a big, strong forward who can be dangerous," Adair told Hokiesports.com. "She's good back to goal, holds the ball well and brings other people into the game and can turn games with her ability to score goals and create goals. We're excited for her to come in and see how she will fit in with the other forwards we have and our frontline in general."

The other recruits are Allie Lewis, a defender, attacking midfielder Emma Pelkowski, both from Pennsylvania, and Maddy Baucom from North Carolina.