Hokies fall to No. 6 Seton Hall in penalty kicks

CARY, N.C. – The Virginia Tech men's soccer team's NCAA postseason run came to an end in penalty kicks against No. 6 Seton Hall on Thursday night.
 
It took eight rounds of penalty kicks, but the Pirates (10-1-4, 5-1-2 Big East) eventually ended the Hokies (7-6-4, 5-5-2 ACC) fifth-consecutive NCAA Tournament run.
 
Virginia Tech scrapped their way into a lead in the first half, going against the grain of the game, when Nick Blacklock's shot from outside the box was deflected into the net in the 14th minute.
 
Tech held that lead for most of the half, but Seton Hall grabbed an equalizer in the dying moments of the first half off a header from Maurice Williams. 
 
Blacklock grabbed his second of the night off a great offensive move from the Hokies. Jakob Bluemler stormed through the Seton Hall defense before playing Jacob Labovitz, who laid it off to Blacklock for his brace and to give the lead back to Tech.
 
Seton Hall did not bow out of the match, however. A troublesome ball off a corner in the 80th minute caused enough commotion for the Pirates to hammer home a late game-tying goal, sending the match to extra time.
 
Thursday's match was the third time in as many games that Tech went to overtime and the eighth time in the 2020-21 campaign. 
 Gallery: (5-6-2021) 2020-2021 MEN'S SOCCER NCAA SWEET 16