BLACKSBURG – After a second NCAA Sweet Sixteen trip in the last three seasons, the Virginia Tech men's soccer team concluded the fall semester Thursday with the conclusion of exams.
The 2018 season comes after last year's 10-10 team that graduated 10 seniors, including two First Team All-ACC talents in Marcelo Acuna and Ben Lundgaard. But the Hokies, led by Head Coach Mike Brizendine in his 10th season at the helm, regrouped through the spring and summer months and won all three of their preseason matches in preparation for another grueling campaign, that featured the 10thtoughest strength of schedule in the nation.
The Hokies would go on to have another fantastic season, beginning the campaign with a run of six games unbeaten, which included two road victories and a tie at No. 10 Virginia in the first ACC match of the season.
In all, Tech would end the year with an 8-3-2 mark in nonconference play.
The Hokies, who made their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, were a national seed in the competition for the second time in program history, earning themselves a bye through the First Round.
In the Second Round, held at Thompson Field, Tech welcomed in Charlotte a familiar postseason opponent, with the two meeting in 2016 with the Hokies advancing.
Forward Kristo Strickler's 10thgoal of the season was the difference as he finished the rebound from Jakob Bluemler's shot that was saved by the keeper but pushed the ball directly into Strickler's path. The 49ers took nine shots on the afternoon and managed to hit the crossbar, but couldn't get anything past Mathijs Swaneveld who earned a shutout and pushed the Hokies into the Sweet 16 against James Madison with the 1-0 result.
How sweet it is ‼️
— Virginia Tech Men's Soccer (@HokiesMSoccer) November 18, 2018
We're dancing into the Round of 16 next weekend pic.twitter.com/pFgyCP0GuI
JMU ended the Hokies' run on Sunday, Nov. 25 with a 3-0 victory at Thompson Field. Tech would have the advantage in corners, with a season high 15 and shots were nearly equal (12-11) but the Dukes were able to take advantage of their opportunities on the afternoon to reach the Elite Eight.
Senior Rory Slevin graduates with the most NCAA victories of any Hokie, racking up five in his career, a tally shared by the junior class as well.
Season Highlights
The Hokies had two student-athletes placed on All-Conference teams, forward Kristo Strickler on the second team and goalkeeper Mathijs Swaneveld on the third team.
Strickler led the Hokies with 10 goals and tallied an impressive 24 points.
He was named the ACC's Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 22 after he scored eight points in two big wins for the Hokies. In midweek action against Longwood, the Hilliard, Ohio native led Tech to a 4-0 rout by scoring a goal and adding an assist. Then he fueled Tech's comeback at No. 16 Notre Dame. Tech trailed by two goals at halftime, but rallied for a 5-2 victory, thanks in large part to Strickler who scored twice, including the game winner and also provided an assist.
After a big week, Kristo earns @accmsoccer Offensive Player of the Week honors!
— Virginia Tech Men's Soccer (@HokiesMSoccer) October 22, 2018
📰» https://t.co/svLszRMWNS pic.twitter.com/T7d77Mzo1n
That week he was also included in Top Drawer Soccer and Soccer America's teams of the week for his performance.
THE SHOT STOPPER
— Virginia Tech Men's Soccer (@HokiesMSoccer) November 7, 2018
Mathijs earns third team honors in 2018 after leading the league in saves 💪pic.twitter.com/mzBSTbzQG1
Swaneveld played every minute in goal in 2018, leading the conference with 95 saves on the season and earning five shutouts. The 6-foot-5 sophomore from The Netherlands joined the Hokies in the spring semester and earned the job after an impressive preseason.
His save total ranks third nationally.
In addition, defender James Kasak provided seven assists, a tally that ranked tied for fourth in the league. He also added a goal against Longwood, for nine points on the season.
As a team, the Hokies were able to find the back of the net 37 times, the second most of any ACC squad. That tally was good for 20thin the nation. Behind Strickler (10), forward Nico Quashie had six goals, Jon Ingason added four, David Sanz and Brendan Moyers each had three and a host of Hokies each contributed additional goals.
The Hokies once again earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the third season in a row and seventh time in the past nine seasons.
Hokies in the final rankings
RPI: 13
United Soccer Coaches: 17
Top Drawer Soccer: 14
SOS: 10