WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The North Texas soccer team appeared to have stolen momentum with a pair of game-tying strikes early in the second half, but Virginia Tech answered NT’s call in a 4-2 loss to close out the Wake Forest Invitational.

“We played well enough to win today, and I was proud of my team in the way they battled back to tie the score,” said North Texas head coach John Hedlund. “Unfortunately, the two questionable goals they had were very tough to come back from. Nevertheless, I’m proud of the fact that we never gave up.”

Sparked by two Hokie goals and a yellow card on Hedlund, Vanessa Ibewuike and Lindsey Hulstein found the back of the net just three minutes apart early in the second half. The goals marked a clear shift in momentum to the Mean Green (2-2), but it wouldn’t last long.

The Hokies (3-0-1), who fell just shy of the top 25 in the week’s national rankings, responded 12 minutes later with a pair of goals in a two minute span to take a 4-2 stranglehold on the game.

Hulstein nearly nabbed her second goal of the game when her header bounced off the post in the 83^rd minute, but that’s as close as NT would come.

The Mean Green returns home to face Sam Houston State on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m., and will appear on Fox Sports Southwest on Sunday at TCU at noon.

Mean Green Quick Hitters
• Vanessa Ibewuike scored her first goal in a Mean Green uniform in the 49th minute. The Texas transfer started both games this weekend, and was a force for NT.

• Lindsey Hulstein tied the game in the 53rd minute. The goal was the sophomore’s first in 2013, but the second of her career.

• John Hedlund has preached about the depth on his squad this year, and it was evident this weekend. A total of 21 players saw action in today’s game against Virginia Tech.

• Today was the first meeting with Virginia Tech, who appeared in “Others Receiving Vote” in the NSCAA Top 25 this week.

• On Sunday, Jackie Kerestine became just the fourth goalkeeper in NT history to cross the 4,000 minute plateau. She now has 4,053 minutes under her belt.

• Kelsey Hodges played 78 minutes against the Hokies, which moved her into ninth place in school history with 5,507 career minutes played.

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