BLACKSBURG, Va. – UMBC women’s soccer did all it could to hold off the fourth-ranked team in the nation and the top team in their bracket, but senior goalkeeper Lauren Kadet’s (Oakville, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) season-high seven saves were not enough to hold off Virginia Tech as the Hokies punched home a goal in each half to end the Retrievers’ Cinderella season in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night at Thompson Field. The Retrievers conclude their historic season, which resulted in its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, with a program-best 13 victories and UMBC’s first-ever regular-season and conference tournament crowns. UMBC’s turnaround season ends with a 13-6-2 overall record, while Virginia Tech improves to a program-record 17-4-2 and moves on to the NCAA Tournament second round where it will host the winner of Rutgers and West Virginia. The contest started out quietly, with no whistles or shots coming in the opening seven minutes of action. The Hokies would record the first shot of the contest, its only one of the half that was not placed on goal, as junior midfielder Kelsey Loupee sent her attempt wide right. VT would put Kadet to work shortly after, forcing the Retrievers’ all-time saves leader to knock down a pair of shots from sophomore midfielder Ashley Meier. Meier missed out on another chance to give Virginia Tech the 1-0 advantage in the 34th minute, as her shot was tipped just wide by Kadet. The Retrievers would hold off the Hokies on the ensuing corner kick, as a Shannon Mayrose header was blocked by the UMBC defense. The Retrievers were unable to keep Virginia Tech off the scoreboard before the break. Mayrose flicked up a header inside the near post on a long cross from the right side by senior defender Taylor Antolino, giving the Hokies a 1-0 advantage in the 40th minute. UMBC sophomore back Nikki Boretti (Crofton, Md./Archbishop Spalding) helped to keep the game within one goal prior to the break, as a centering pass was pinned against the foot of senior forward Ashley Manning by Boretti, keeping the forward from getting off a shot from five yards out. Kadet continued her stellar play in the second half, making a point-blank save on a shot from senior forward Ashley Manning to keep the Retrievers within one 3:18 into the second period. Manning would add an insurance goal in the 61st minute when she was able to turn with a defender on her back and blast a shot inside the far right post from 12 yards out to give the Hokies a 2-0 lead. UMBC sophomore forward Alexa Quaranta (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) tallied a shot for the Retrievers in the 72nd minute, but her attempt was sent far left. The shot moved her into sole possession of third on UMBC’s single-season shots list, with 61 shots on the year. Kadet matched a season-high with seven saves on the night to tie for 10th on UMBC’s single-season saves list. She finished her career as the program’s all-time saves leader (397) and ranked in the Retrievers’ top-10 in single season saves all four years. Senior goalkeeper Dayle Colpitts did not have to make a save on the evening, as Virginia Tech blanked its 10th opponent of the season. Game Notes -UMBC drops its first-ever NCAA Tournament game and moves to 9-10-1 all-time in postseason play. -America East teams are 11-24 in NCAA Tournament games. -Virginia Tech was the top-ranked team in UMBC’s bracket and entered the contest ranked No. 4 in the nation. -UMBC’s seniors Lauren Kadet and Stephanie Smith played in their final collegiate game.