BC defeats Tech, 3-1, on Senior Night

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Cold weather and freezing rain provided a nail-biting atmostphere for this crucial ACC matchup. After tying it up in the 36th minute, the Hokies fell behind late and Boston College (9-3-5, 2-2-4) eventually came away victorious over Tech (5-12-1, 1-6-1) with a final score of 3-1.

Wet conditions helped keep shot opportunities at a minimum, with each team only taking nine on the match. In the end, the difference in the match came down to capitalizing on free kicks, which accounted for two of Boston College’s goals.

The Eagles grabbed the lead early, with Charlie Rugg driving in his eighth goal of the season in the second minute of regulation. A free kick from midfield came to Rugg at the top of the box, which he pushed into the net from 18 yards out. As the rain started coming down, Tech evened it up with a goal from David Clemens, who shot a rebounded ball of the Eagles’ keeper for his fourth goal of the season. At the half, the score remained even at one a piece.

The rain subsided and the second half remained tied for 15 minutes until Boston College’s Kyle Bekker scored on a close free kick in the 56th minute to put Boston College up 2-1. Three minutes later, Tech keeper James Daly dove for a ball just out of the goalies’ box that, in the wet conditions, slipped his grasp and the Eagles’ Sacir Hot tapped it in from a few yards out. That brought the score to 3-1, which proved final.

As the trend has been this season, Tech held the edge in corner kicks, 8-5, for the match, taking four each half. James Daly earned three saves on the match to bring his season total to 44 on the season.

Prior to the match, Tech honored three seniors that would be playing their final game at Thompson Field. Honorees included Albert Alwang (Blacksburg, Va.), Clarke Bentley (Marietta, Ga.) and Evan Slusser (Prince George, Va.).

Heading into next week’s ACC Tournament, Tech will play against NC State in the play-in game on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. in Cary, N.C. Earlier this season, Tech earned a 2-1 victory at NC State. The Hokies and the Wolfpack have squared off twice before in the ACC Tournament, in 2006 and 2008, both NC State victories.