In the second ACC match of the season, the No.17 Virginia Tech men's soccer team fell in similar fashion to last Friday's match, taking the lead in the first half before eventually falling, this time 2-1 to (RV) Louisville. The result drops the Hokies to 5-2 and 0-2 in league play.
Louisville advanced to 3-1-2 (1-0-1) with the win.
The Hokies took the lead through All-ACC striker Kristo Strickler in the 36thminute and had an opportunity to double the advantage minutes later but a penalty kick chance was squandered and Tech took their 1-0 advantage into the half.
In the second half, the Cardinal were pressing for the equalizer, but Mathijs Swaneveld in goal was equal to the task making a season best six saves. On one particular corner he stopped a snap header on the goal line and minutes later, made a save from just a few yards out on a volley.
SCORING SUMMARY
- 36' - Kristo Strickler received a ball from Jon Ingason about 25 yards out and held off two defenders while he turned on the volley and beat the keeper at the far post to give the Hokies a 1-0 lead.
- 82' – Louisville's Cherif Dieye latched onto a long ball from defender Louka Masset and took a touch on the right side of the box before curling an effort to the far post that snuck past Mathijs Swaneveld.
- 85' – Minutes later the Cards grabbed the winner, through Dieye as he gathered a ball at the top of the box and fired a low effort to the near post that found nylon.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Shots: Louisville 15-9
- Corners: Louisville 4-3
- Saves: Virginia Tech 6-0
GAME NOTES
- The Tech defense anchored by goalkeeper Mathijs Swaneveld had a bid of a second consecutive shutout busted after 82 minutes. On Tuesday night, the squad earned their first shutout of the 2019 campaign, blanking Grand Canyon 4-0
- The Hokies utilized the same starting eleven that put four goals past Grand Canyon on Tuesday night.
- Strickler scored for the fourth time in seven games, tallying his fifth of the season and 18thof his career.
UP NEXT
The Hokies will be back at home on Friday September 27 at 1 p.m. when they play host to Boston College. That game will be broadcast on ACC Network.
Tech is 2-3-10 all-time against the Eagles, but defeated them in the last matchup, a 1-0 game in 2017.