Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech men’s soccer head coach Mike Brizendine has announced the Hokies 2016 spring schedule that features three in-state foes and a trip to Costa Rica.
The Hokies will play games against Wake Forest, William and Mary, James Madison, Marshall, Liberty and East Tennessee State. Tech will also finish its spring schedule in Costa Rica with a 12-day training trip in May.
“This spring is very important for this group of players. We have a number of returning players that will get time to continue to develop. We’re also excited about a number of young guys that we were able to redshirt this past year and are really looking forward to getting them quality minutes against good competition. It’s also important for us to use this time to get some of our injured guys healthy again and back with us,” Brizendine said.
Tech will start its spring slate on March 19 at 7 p.m. as they play at Wake Forest. On April 2, the Hokies will face William and Mary at 4:30 p.m. at Charlottesville High School. The following weekend on April 9, the Hokies will head to West Virginia to play at the Greenbrier Sports Performance Center. Tech will play two games that day as they face James Madison at 11:30 a.m. and Marshall at 1 p.m.
The Hokies will then travel to Liberty on April 16 to take on the Flames at 2 p.m. before returning home to close out the spring on April 23 vs. East Tennessee State at noon. That weekend of April 22-24 will also mark the annual alumni weekend for the Hokies. Tech will conclude the spring by heading to Costa Rica for 12 days.
“For us to be able to add a great trip like this to Costa Rica at the end of our spring is really special. Not only will we get an opportunity to play some great competition, but we will also be able to submerge ourselves in a diverse and unique culture and grow as a team,” Brizendine said.
The team graduates only one senior and will return essentially the entire squad from the 2015 season and will be bolstered by the addition of their 2016 signing class. The team is led by NSCAA All-South Region Third Team choice Ricardo john as well as VaSID Second Team All-State selection Merlin Baus.