Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Playing at home for the first time in over two weeks, the Virginia Tech men’s soccer team tied Campbell, 1-1 in double overtime, on a rainy and blustery night at Thompson Field. The tie was the Hokies’ first draw of the season.
“Tonight was important for us. We needed to rebound and I thought this was our best mid-week game of the season,” said Tech head coach Mike Brizendine. “I thought when we played simple, one-touch soccer, our performance was very good. (Kyle) Renfro came up big a couple of times for us and this was a good result.”
In the first half, the Camels (5-6-2) had the first chance of the match as Travis Golden’s header in the seventh minute was saved by sophomore goalkeeper Kyle Renfro, but the rebound skipped free to Brian Urioste who had his follow up deflected by Renfro and out for a corner. Junior midfielder Robert Alberti had Tech’s first two shots, the second of which from the top of the box was high in the 16th minute.
Campbell struck first at 19:52 as Urioste settled a headed Tech clearance off a cross at the top of the box and fired a half volley from 18 yards to the far post, past the reach of a diving Renfro. The Camels outshot Tech, 9-3, in the first period.
In the second half Tech (3-8-1) had the better run of play for much of the period. In the 69th minute, junior forward Michael Garrick flicked a long ball onto to senior James Shupp who had his low rip saved from going in by a Campbell defender.
However, Tech would equalize shortly there after at 69:59 when freshman defender Kevin Reitzel got his foot on the end of a bouncing ball in the box and directed it towards goal, where it went off a Campbell defender and in for an own goal.
The Hokies kept the pressure on as Garrick forced a good save from Campbell goalkeeper Ethan Hall on a low strike in the 76th minute. Just under one minute later, sophomore forward Mikey Minutillo created his own chance with a nice individual effort down the left flank. His shot had Hall beat to the far post, but the ball hit the woodwork.
Minutillo also broke free on a corner kick with only 48 seconds remaining, but his header sailed high, forcing the match into overtime.
In the overtime periods, Campbell outshot Tech, 7-1. The Camels’ Nick Burdett had his shot from the left flank nick the near post and go wide in the 95th minute. Renfro made three saves in the extra sessions for Tech, preserving the result. The ACC leader in saves, Renfro added eight more to his total tonight, bringing his season total to 62.
For the match, Campbell outshot Tech, 23-11, while corners were even at six apiece.
The Hokies return to action on Friday as they travel to Raleigh, N.C. for an ACC match at North Carolina State at 7 p.m. Tech then returns home next Tuesday, Oct. 18 to play Wright State at 7 p.m.