BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech men's soccer team will travel to Harrisonburg, Virginia for the opening weekend of the 2018 season to compete in the JMU Invitational at Sentara Park. Friday's contest pits the Hokies against Air Force, a team Tech knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in 2017 at Thompson Field 2-0.
Sunday afternoon, the Hokies will face Gardner-Webb from the Big South conference.
Live stats coverage will be available throughout the weekend.
The Hokies
Tech concluded a perfect 3-0 preseason after exhibition victories over West Virginia, Old Dominion and a shutout versus Villanova.
With captain Jon Ingason and the return of Will Mejia to the backline, Tech's defense expects to be formidable with Mathias Swaneveld a 6-foot-4 shot stopper between the posts. Up front, a talented crop of attackers seems poised to cause opponents fits, with Nico Quashie healthy and fit again after missing 2017 with an injury, and pacey newcomers Khalil Dover and Arion Sobers-Assue vying for minutes alongside Kristo Strickler the dynamic sophomore.
The Falcons
Air Force , who went 14-4-4 in 2017 making an NCAA appearance, were picked third in the WAC heading into the season. Forward Austin Dewing is the Falcons' active leading scorer with 17 tallies in his career, while the squad is led by All-American candidate Tucker Bone in the middle of the park.
The Bulldogs
Gardner-Webb finished 8-7-2 a season ago, falling to Liberty in the opening match of the Big South Tournament.
The Bulldogs were selected to finish fifth in the Big South by the league's head coaches.
Severin Soerlie and Magnus Moldjord are top returners, each shaving cored 11 goals last season for G-W, a team that scored 42 times in 2017.
Kickoff at Sentara Park is slated for 4 p.m. for both matches of the weekend for the Hokies.