BLACKSBURG –Following the first loss of the season last Friday night, the Virginia Tech men's soccer team was back on the pitch at Thompson Field, this time earning a different result, routing Grand Canyon University 4-0 Tuesday night.
A season high nine different Hokies tallied points, including four different goal scorers on the night, as the team shared the ball well and brought each other into the game before heading towards goal.
With the win, Tech moves to 5-1 (0-1) on the season ahead of the squad's first league road game this weekend against the Louisville Cardinals.
Grand Canyon, who made the trip east just for the one match, falls to 3-2 on the season.
SCORING SUMMARY, HOW THE GOALS WERE SCORED
- 44' – Keeper Mathijs Swaneveld booted the ball up the pitch and it was flicked on by Nick Blacklock. The first man to the second ball was Kristo Strickler who headed it on into the path of Nikal Clarke-Smith who found himself playing forward for a portion of the night. The Toronto native finished the ball with a neat left footed volley that flew past the keeper for his first tally of the season.
- 48' – Minutes after halftime, senior Jon Ingason found his name on the score sheet once again. The defender was in the box for a long throw in opportunity that fell to the feet of Strickler initially and after his attempt was blocked fell nicely onto his left boot, and quickly found nylon.
- 52' – The game's best move, finished off beautifully at the back post by Labovitz started with a spell of possession in the middle of the park for the Hokies until Sivert Haulgi switched fields onto the left flank and put the ball into the path of James Kasak. In space, Kasak was able to hit a dangerous cross on the ground that was just too quick for Strickler at the near post and also beat the keeper leaving Labovitz a clean sight of goal as he slid in getting his right tow onto it.
- 70' – The final goal began off the foot of Swaneveld again as he hit a long diagonal pass into the path of Marc Hoppler on the left wing. Hoppler took a positive touch to beat his man and find space and looked up to see Brendan Moyers all alone inside the box and played a pass to him. Moyers, a senior took a touch to steady himself and dispatched the fourth and final goal into the bottom corner.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Tech had more opportunities going forward, shooting the ball 14 times to the Lopes' 11.
- The Hokies earned five corners, the Lopes four.
- In goal George Tasouris made four saves for the Lopes, and Swaneveld came up with three for Tech.
GAME NOTES
- The Tech defense anchored by goalkeeper Mathijs Swaneveld earned their first shutout of the 2019 campaign.
- Justus Kauppinen who has seen time in all six contests in 2019, got his first start since the 2017 season. The redshirt sophomore sat out in 2018 with an injury.
UP NEXT
Tech will travel to (RV) Louisville on Friday, September 20 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Lynn Stadium. That match can be seen on Regional Sports Networks. Tech last played the Cardinals in 2017, falling 1-0 at Thompson Field.
The Hokies are 3-1-1 all-time at Louisville, last traveling there in 2015, earning a 1-1 tie. Historically, Tech has owned the matchup, boasting a 10-1-4 record.
Gallery: (9/17/2019) 2019 MEN'S SOCCER vs. GRAND CANYON