GREENSBORO, N.C. – Jacob Labovitz's two headers punched Virginia Tech's ticket into the next round of the NCAA DI Men's Soccer Championship, as the Hokies defeated No. 15 Oregon State 2-1 in overtime.
As time expired in the first overtime period of the night, Chris Little delivered a ball into the box that Labovitz was able to rise above the defender and head down into the net. The golden goal sealed Tech's (7-6-3, 5-5-2 ACC) trip into its fourth Sweet Sixteen in five years.
It was a complete team performance for the Hokies, who held Oregon State (9-5, 6-4 PAC 12), the nation's leading offense, to one goal in 110 minutes.
That one goal momentarily deflated Virginia Tech. Tyrone Mondi was able to get off a shot at the front post in the 87th-minute that beat Tech keeper Matt Zambetti, sending the game to extra time and shifting the momentum in the Beavers' favor.
That moment did not define Zambetti's afternoon, however. The redshirt-freshman goalkeeper recorded six saves throughout the game, rendering the nation's leading goalscorer Gloire Amanda scoreless.
As mentioned earlier, the winning goal was Labovitz's second headed goal of the match. In the 54th-minute, the forward directed a header into the net off an assist from Kristo Strickler
The Hokies will take on No. 6 Seton Hall (10-1-3, 5-1-2 Big East) on Thursday at 9 p.m. in Cary, North Carolina.
Gallery: (5-2-2021) 2020-2021 NCAA SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND