Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – For the second time in as many home games, the Virginia Tech men's soccer team fell to a top-five opponent in extra time at Thompson Field, as the Hokies lost to No. 5 Pitt, 2-1, on Saturday night.
The match was never meant to be played under the lights, but Tech (4-6-2, 0-4 ACC) and Pitt (11-2, 3-1 ACC) endured a five-hour weather delay to get the game in.
It was Pitt's Alexander Dexter that ultimately ended the game by slotting home the rebound of a shot saved by Matt Zambetti in the 102nd minute to win the match for the Panthers.
Regulation was a tale of two halves, as Pitt dominated the shot count in the first half. The Panther's consistent efforts paid off towards the end of the first half as Valentin Noel gave the visitors the lead heading into the break.
Tech did not sit back comfortably in the second half. A bombardment of shots on the Pitt goal eventually broke through, as Jacob Labovitz hammered home a low-driven ball from Kyle McDowell to level the score with only six minutes remaining in regulation.
McDowell was reintegrated into the Hokies' lineup after being forced to miss Tech's last two matches, an ongoing theme in the spring campaign for head coach Mike Brizendine's side.
Saturday's fixture against Pitt was senior day-turned-to-night for the Hokies, as Kristo Strickler, Hayden Kickbush, and Mathijs Swaneveld were honored prior to the match.
The Hokies will be back in action on Friday when they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. to take on No. 16 North Carolina (6-3-3, 3-0-1 ACC).
Gallery: (3-26-2021) 2020-2021 MEN'S SOCCER SENIOR DAY
Gallery: (3-27-2021) 2020-2021 MEN'S SOCCER vs. PITT