HARRISONBURG, Va. – The shots came in abundance, but Virginia Tech men's soccer team was unable to get the goal tally necessary to defeat Kansas City in Thursday's rain-shortened fixture at the JMU Invitational.
Debutants Pol Monells and Conor Pugh linked up four minutes into the game to provide an opportunity on goal that was saved by the Roos' goalkeeper. That sequence proved to be the first of 20 shots that the Hokies fired off, standing tall over Kansas City's count of six.
Despite the onslaught on goal, it was Kansas City that struck first from a penalty kick that Matt Zambetti narrowly missed out on saving with 27 minutes remaining in the first half.
Tech responded quickly to even the score when Kahlil Dover's tenacity on the wing resulted in a ball into the box that Landon Ameres tidied up into the net for his first career goal.
Following the trend of first career goals, Tyler Taber put Tech up 2-1 when he scored at the front post in his first appearance in marron and orange.
The Hokies did not sit back in the second half, as plenty of shots were produced from the lineup that featured a mix of first timers and veterans. However, against the run of play Kansas City knotted the game up in the 66th minute.
A heavy dose of corner kicks towards the end of the 90 minutes still did not prove bountiful for Virginia Tech and the familiar extra time period was called upon.
Just short of four minutes into the overtime period, another lightning delay came down on the match. This one proved to be the last straw and the match was called a tie.
The Hokies return to action in Harrisonburg on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. against No. 1 Marshall in the first of three consecutive ranked matchups.
Gallery: (8-27-2021) 2021 MEN'S SOCCER vs. KANSAS CITY
