BLACKSBURG –The No. 21 Virginia Tech men's soccer team will make the trip up I-81 for a 7 p.m. match on Friday against the tenth-ranked Virginia Cavaliers. It will be the first ACC match of the season for both clubs, who enter Friday's tilt undefeated.
Coverage is available through ACC Network Extra and live stats can be found on Virginia's athletics website.
The Hokies (3-0-1)
Tech continued its solid play to open the season in weekend number two securing a victory and one draw against USF and UCF on the road.
Kristo Strickler was on the score sheet in both matches last weekend, netting the winner Friday evening at the Bulls and once again finding the net against the Knights.
In goal Mathijs Swaneveld continued his strong play, notching the first shut out of his career in the win over USF. Overall on the weekend, the Dutchman faced 44 shots and only conceded twice.
The Cavaliers (1-0-1)
Virginia is coming off of a scoreless draw against Maryland in a match that was played at DC United's Audi Field in Washington. The Cavaliers were outshot 15-11 by the Terrapins, but keeper Colin Shutler recorded seven saves and his second shutout in as many contests to open the year. It's just the second time that Virginia has recorded back-to-back shutouts to start a season since 2007.
Joe Bell has scored the Cavaliers' only goal of the season so far in a 1-0 victory over New Hampshire.
Series History
The series between Virginia Tech and fierce ACC foe Virginia dates all the way back to 1975. The Cavaliers have historically been overwhelmingly successful over the Hokies as they own a 31-2-4 record all-time. The last time these two teams met last season, the result was no different; Virginia bested the Hokies 2-1 at Thompson Field.
The two lone victories for the Hokies came in consecutive seasons in 2004 and 2005, the latest triumph being a 2-1 overtime victory on the road in Charlottesville, Virginia. Tech aims to replicate this result and move to 1-0 in ACC play when they take the field later this week in enemy territory.
The Commonwealth Clash
Building on a tradition started in 1895, the Commonwealth Clash is a head-to-head points-based competition within the 22 varsity sports in which University of Virginia and Virginia Tech compete against each other. At the end of the season, the institution with the most points will be crowned the champion of the Commonwealth Clash.
The Commonwealth Clash will encourage a friendly, statewide rivalry throughout the state. The competition will allow additional exposure for football and basketball and bring increased attention to the Olympic sport competitions, encouraging attendance and generating support for these programs. The series will also work to promote good sportsmanship and build a sense of anticipation and excitement towards the culmination when the winning school is presented with the trophy.
The school to earn each season's majority of points will be crowned the winner of the Commonwealth Clash each athletic season. In the case of a tie after the completion of all Commonwealth Clash events, the school with the most ACC Championships in sports that both schools compete during the current academic year will be awarded the tie breaker.
Virginia Tech has won each of the last two seasons.