Hokie ClubLOUISVILLE, Ky. – With a pair of goals in the dying minutes of each half, Virginia Tech was able to stun No. 5 Louisville, 2-1, on Friday night at Lynn Stadium.
Sophomore Andy Sullins put the Hokies on the board in the 43rd minute to level to score at 1-1 then Oliver Roche brandished some late-game heroics and secured an 88th-minute winner for Tech. The win marked the Hokies' first triumph of the season and keeps them undefeated in ACC play.
Throughout the night, Tech controlled the pace of the game – dominating the shot total, 18-10. The Hokies held an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks and recorded seven shots on target compared to fifth-ranked Louisville's five.
Friday had the potential to be a long evening for Tech, as Quinton Elliot put the Cardinals on the board early with a strike from just outside the 18-yard box that found the top corner. That goal was the lone shot to beat Timi Adams, who recorded a career-high four saves for the Hokies.
Not to be deterred by the early setback, Virginia Tech went on to out-shoot the hosts, 9-5, in the remainder of the half. The breakthrough came with only 2:19 left in the first half, as Noe Uwimana whipped in a ball into the box that found the head of Sullins. As the Virginia transfer guided the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal, he netted his first goal in the maroon and orange. Uwimana's service marked his third assist of his rookie campaign.
A similar theme was followed in the second half, as Tech again posted nine shots in the final 45 minutes. When it seemed that the Hokies might be trending towards their fourth consecutive draw, Declan Quill benefited from a misplayed ball that he passed along to Roche, who used a clever touch to open up space for a left-footed shot into the back of the net.
The goal marked Roche's third in four games and secured three points for the Hokies in ACC play. With Louisville holding the No. 5 spot in this week's United Soccer Coaches poll, Virginia Tech has now gone nine consecutive seasons with a ranked victory. The result was also Tech's fifth straight win over Louisville, including four on the road.
Virginia Tech will look to remain unbeaten in league play, as it returns home on Friday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. for a clash against Boston CollegeGallery: (9-17-2023) MSOC: at Louisville