BLACKSBURG –Virginia Tech's first appearance at Thompson Field in 2019 was spoiled by No. 18 North Carolina Friday night as the Heels earned a come from behind 3-1 victory in the ACC opener for both clubs.
The Hokies, ranked ninth, started brightly, holding the lion's share of possession and forcing North Carolina to camp in its own half. Kristo Strickler and Nick Blacklock each had efforts saved in the opening 20 minutes.
The breakthrough would come for the Hokies in the 23rdminute when Brendan Moyers launched a long throw in from the near sideline that was flicked on in the box by Jon Ingason and found the head of Strickler who was arriving into a dangerous position. The glancing header found the far post and the Hokies took a 1-0 lead.
Carolina wouldn't wait long to level the match however as Jack Skahan offered a cross from the right wing that reached Jelani Pieters who was able to curl his effort to the far post beating Mathijs Swaneveld.
Five minutes later, the Heels were on the sheet again as Mauricio Pineda took a pass from Jeremy Kelly and turned in the box and dispatched his second goal of the season which would carry Carolina into the locker room leading 2-1.
North Carolina added an insurance goal in the 64thminute when a deflected cross from Jelani Pieters trickled its way to the goal mouth and Martin Salas applied the finishing touch to extend the lead.
Tech wouldn't' go away however with Strickler and Blacklock continuing to press forward and get attempts on frame. Both outside backs, James Kasak and Jakob Bluemler were adventurous and put in crosses as well as Daniel Pereira from midfield.
The eighteenth-ranked Heels moved to 3-1-1 (1-0) on the season and Tech fell to 4-1 (0-1).
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Tech had more opportunities in front of goal, shooting 16 times to Carolina's 12.
- The Hokies earned seven corners, the Heels six.
- In goal Alex Smir made six saves for Carolina, and Swaneveld came up with two.
GAME NOTES
- Tech made one change from the eleven who won 4-3 last weekend against Hofstra. Marc Hoppler who scored the game winner got the nod at forward, his second start of the season.
- Strickler scored for the second game in a row and in the third of five contests in 2019. The forward has scored in consecutive matches five times in his career.
- The Hokies fell short of setting a new program record, that would have occurred with a victory. No men's soccer team has ever started the season 5-0. The 4-0 start in 2019 was the fifth time that feat had been reached in program history. The other instances the program reached that feat were the 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2016 seasons.
- The Hokies took 23 minutes to score Friday night, by far the longest it has taken this season. In each of the first four games, Tech had tallied by the eighth minute.
- Tech has given up at least one goal in all five matches in 2019.
UP NEXT
The Hokies are right back on Thompson Field on Tuesday, September 17 when they play host to Grand Canyon University. Kickoff for that contest is slated for 7 p.m. and can be seen on ACC Network Extra. Gallery: (9/13/2019) 2019 MEN'S SOCCER vs. UNC