For a second straight game, Syracuse fell behind early by two goals and, despite a comeback attempt, was unable to crawl out of the hole it dug itself.

As North Carolina did against the Orange on Thursday, Virginia Tech scored two goals Sunday in the game’s first 30 minutes. That ended up being all the No. 10 Hokies (10-1-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast) would need to beat SU (4-7-1, 0-3), 3-1, at Thompson Field in Blacksburg, Virginia.

With the game scoreless in the 16th minute, Candace Cephers scored off of a corner kick from Jordan Coburn. Just eight minutes later, Coburn got her second assist off another set piece. This time, she found Murielle Tiernan with a free kick in the 24th minute to extend Virginia Tech’s lead to two goals.

Syracuse pulled within one later in the first half, when Stephanie Skilton scored unassisted in the 44th minute — her third goal of the season. But after halftime, Virginia Tech wasted little time re-extending its lead to two goals. Ashley Meier scored the game’s last goal shortly after stealing a pass in SU’s penalty box in the 48th minute.

The Orange will play its next game on Oct. 4 against Louisville at SU Soccer Stadium. It will also mark Syracuse’s first home game in conference play.