HARRISONBURG, VA –Virginia Tech needed late heroics from junior Marc Hoppler, whose 84thminute goal stood as the game winner as the Hokies defeated Hofstra 4-3 Sunday afternoon in the JMU Invitational. With the win, Tech moves to 4-0 on the season, just the fifth time in program history that the team has had such a start.
Hofstra falls to 2-2 on the season, after their second loss of the weekend.
The Hokies continued their trend of scoring early goals, when they found the net in the eighth minute after Brendan Moyers played a lofted ball from midfield over the backline that Kristo Strickler latched onto and one-timed a left footed volley over the keeper and into the net.
Tech saw other chances go begging, including shots from Sivert Haugli, Strickler, James Kasak and freshman Daniel Pereira. In the first half, Tech had four shots on goal and six corners.
In the 36thminute, Hofstra equalized with their only real chance when Storm Strongin put in a dangerous cross that took a hop and found its way into the back of the Hokies' net.
In the second half, the Hokies started on the front foot, and found their efforts rewarded in the 50thminute when the pressure resulted in a handball in the box. Captain Jon Ingason stepped to the spot and converted, his second goal of the season. The lead would expand in the 58thafter Pereira slipped in Nick Blacklock on the left wing who crossed it to Strickler in the goal mouth. The junior from Hilliard, Ohio found the net with another one-time finish to push the score to 3-1.
The game seemed comfortable for a long stretch until the Pride found a lifeline through Petter Soelberg in the 74thminute. The forward found the net after a low ball came across the box from Jesse Schleeper to make it a one-goal game again. Just a minute later, the game was level after Frederik Reiper finished a cross from Jason Ramirez.
Seven minutes from time, Tech found the game winner from the left wing again as Blacklock danced around the penalty area and cut onto his right foot to send in a beautiful cross that met the head of Hoppler.
Tech's defense saw out the remaining time on the clock, as Hofstra pushed forward, to no avail.
GAME NOTES
- As mentioned above, the Hokies are 4-0 to start the season for the fifth time. The other instances the program reached that feat were the 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2016 seasons.
- Tech utilized the same starting 11 as Friday night's contest, making them 2-0.
- The match went nine minutes without featuring a goal. That was the longest that a Tech match had not seen a goal this season.
- Ingason's goal was his second this season and sixth of his career, all coming from set pieces. He is four for four from the penalty spot.
- Strickler pushed his career goal tally to 16, the most on the squad.
- For Hoppler, the goal was his third for the Hokies, all of which have come at Sentara Park.
UP NEXT
Tech returns to Blacksburg next week for their home opener on Friday, September 13 against North Carolina. The match will serve as both team's ACC opener. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
That night is Student Appreciation night at Thompson Field, the first 300 in at the gates will receive bucket hats.
Gallery: (9/8/2019) 2019 MEN'S SOCCER vs. HOFSTRA at JMU