Hokie ClubWinston-Salem, N.C. -- In their third ACC contest of the season Friday, the Hokies fell just short of ACC opponent Wake Forest, 2-0. Tech is now 3-5-1 on the season, 1-1-1 in ACC play.
The Demon Deacons did not waste any time, nailing a header in the very first minute to put them up 1-0 early. The Hokies had a scare in the 21st minute, when Kyle Renfro went diving after a ball and was down on the field for a few minutes. Eventually, Renfro stood up under his own power with James Daly substituting in. Daly was tested early, grabbing his 11th save of the season off a close shot that deflected off his fingertips resulting from a Wake Forest corner kick seconds after he substituted in. Daly had another close call in the closing minutes of the half, diving onto the ball facing Wake Forest’s Luca Gimenez one-on-one in the 18-yard box.
The second half started as a back-and-forth battle in the middle of the pitch. Both teams had opportunities midway through the half to convert on back-to-back close free kicks, though neither capitalized on the chance. Devante Dubose nearly evened it up on a header that went just wide in the 72nd minute. Wake Forest’s Kyle Emerson added the insurance goal in the 83rd minute to push the lead to 2-0, which proved final.
Wake’s offensive pressure proved effective, outshooting Tech 17-9 and taking 12 corners to Tech’s six. David Clemens led the Hokies in offensive production, recording three shots, two on goal.
Virginia Tech will be on the road again Tuesday, Oct. 5 to face Longwood at 7 p.m.