BLACKSBURG - The No. 17 Virginia Tech men's soccer team will travel to (RV) Louisville on Friday, September 20 for their second ACC match of the 2019 season.
Coverage Details
- Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m.
- Live stats
- Regional Sports Network
The Hokies responded to their 3–1 defeat to North Carolina last week by dismantling the Grand Canyon Lopes at Thompson Field on Tuesday night. Goals from Nikal Clarke-Smith, Jon Ingason, Jacob Labovitz, and Brendan Moyers propelled the Hokies to a 4–0 win, their first home victory of the season.
Not only did Virginia Tech's offense click as the game developed, but their defense shut down the Lopes throughout. Grand Canyon only managed three shots on target, all saved by Mathijs Swaneveld who earned the shutout, his first in 2019 and sixth of his career.
The Cardinals (2–1–2)
Louisville returns home to face the Hokies after a three-game road trip that saw the Cardinals go 1-1-1, including earning a point in the ACC opener against Syracuse.
Louisville results in 2019:
- T vs Cleveland State 2-2 (2OT)
- W vs No. 9 Kentucky 3-0
- W at Florida Atlantic 3-0
- L at USF 0-2
- T at Syracuse 0-0 (2OT)
The Cardinals' last match was a grueling 0-0 double overtime draw with Syracuse. Louisville goalkeeper Jake Gelnovatch tallied seven saves on the night, a career best. Cherif Dieye (2 goals, 1 assist) and Louka Masset (2 goals, 0 assists) lead the Louisville squad in points this season, with five and four points respectively.
Series History
Historically, the Hokies have dominated the matchup with the Cards, boasting a 10–1–4 record. The last time the two teams faced off Louisville snatched a 1-0 win at Thompson Field in 2017, and the Hokies' previous visit to Lynn Stadium in Louisville resulted in a 1-1 draw back in 2015.
On the horizon
After the matchup with Louisville the Hokies will return to Thompson Field on September 27 to face Boston College. That game will kick off at 1 p.m. on the ACC Network. The Hokies claimed the last matchup between the two 1-0 in the 2017 season.