Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech men’s soccer teams kicks off the 2013 season with a pair of matches against Binghamton and Fordham in Harrisonburg, Va. as a part of the JMU Tournament.
The Hokies return 19 players from the 2012 squad that finished 7-10-3. Tech returns five goal scorers from last year’s squad including senior David Clemens who finished the season with 10 goals. Also returning are sophomores Daniel Lauretano, Kai Marshall, and Connor Pompilio who scored two goals apiece last season.
Senior Kyle Renfro returns in goal for the Hokies. Renfro started all 20 matches last season, racking up an impressive ACC-leading 98 saves. Renfro also touted a .760 save percentage.
The match between Binghamton and the Hokies is the first meeting between the two squads. Binghamton only returns five starters from last season’s team that went 6-11-1.
Seniors Robbie Hughes and Tommy Moon highlight a Bearcat squad that finished seventh in the America East conference last year. Hughes and Moon are the only two returning goal scorers for Binghamton from last season. The pair combined for three of the team’s 24 goals scored last season.
Three goalkeepers saw time for the Bearcats last season. Only one returns from last year’s squad in sophomore Stefano Frantelizzi. Appearing in 12 games while earning eight starts, Frantelizzi posted a .603 save percentage and a 1.91 goals against average.
The match between Fordham and Tech will be the first meeting between the two teams since 1999 and the seventh overall. The Rams are coming off of a 2012 season that saw the team finish 8-7-4.
The Rams return leading goal scorer Julian Nagel who tallied three goals in 16 matches played last year. Also returning is sophomore Kyle Bitterman who scored two goals and tallied two assists during the 2012 season.
Fordham returns goalkeeper Sean Brailey who started and played in 15 matches last season. Brailey boasted a .822 save percentage and a 0.84 goals against average.
The Hokies will take on Binghamton on Friday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. and will take on Fordham on Sunday, Sept. 1 at Noon. Live stats will be available for each match.