BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech men's soccer team had its home debut of the 2018 season spoiled in the 83rdminute when Omir Fernandez found the back of the net, giving visiting top ranked Wake Forest a 2-1 advantage they would not relinquish.
For the Hokies, the result marks the first loss of the season after a hot start, recording a 4-0-2 record through the first three weeks of competition. Tech stands at 0-1-1 in the league, following the draw at No. 10 Virginia last weekend.
The Deacons advance to 7-0 (2-0 ACC).
In a physical game, the Hokies were the aggressors, with a caution coming to Marc Hoppler in the 8thminute of the match. The match shifted after Tech had a player sent off in the 30thminute for a dangerous challenge in the center of the park.
(9/14/2018) 2018 MEN'S SOCCER vs. WAKE FOREST
Despite some Deacon pressure (eight first half shots), Mathijs Swaneveld and the defense anchored by Jon Ingason didn't allow any quality scoring opportunities and kept Wake Forest off of the board.
Then, in the 37thminute Tech's James Kasak dribbled past two defenders and worked his way into the box, drawing a challenge from a Wake defender who took him down. The official blew, signaling for a penalty kick. Ingason, the team's captain stepped up and placed it down the middle, his second goal in as many games, giving the 10-men Hokies the lead, which stayed intact through the halftime interval.
In the second period the Deacons picked up their pressure, exploiting gaps in the defense as the Hokies' defense began to tire after chasing the game for so long. The Deacons' breakthrough came from Bruno Lapa, who was assisted by Aristotle Zarris in the 66thminute of the match.
Tech did its best to keep Wake at bay, sending long clearances in the direction of forwards Khalil Dover and Nico Quashie for them to hold up play to relieve pressure.
The undefeated Deacons found the winner late in the match when Fernandez latched onto a ball in the box from Justin McMaster, slotting it into the corner and earning all three points in the league table.
In goal, Swaneveld made seven saves, keeping Tech in the match for most of the night. Quashie and Arion Sobers-Assue each registered shots on frame in the second half.
Up Next: The Hokies are back on Thompson Field on Tuesday, September 18 for an in-state matchup against Longwood from the Big South conference. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen on ACC Network Extra.