Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Behind goals from Noe Uwimana, Declan Quill and Conor Pugh, Virginia Tech men's soccer defeated reigning Big South champions High Point, 3-2, on Tuesday night at Thompson Field.
On the back of two consecutive ACC wins, the Hokies dipped their toes into its first Tuesday non-conference fixture of the season with a result against the Panthers. The win marks Virginia Tech's sixth consecutive match without a loss.
Uwimana opened the scoring at Thompson Field in the seventh minute with his second goal in as many games. The strike had shades of his game-winning goal against Boston College on Friday, as the freshman curled an effort with his right boot past the outstretched arms of the keeper.
Despite falling down early, the visiting Panthers possessed the ball well and ultimately created a chance that they took advantage of – evening the score at 1-1 in the 27th minute.
The two sides went into the break knotted up at one goal apiece, although the Hokies held an advantage in attempts (7-5) and shots on goal (2-0) through the first 45 minutes.
Tech controlled much of the pace in the second and maximized its time on the ball, netting the two goals it needed to earn the non-conference win. Quill restored Tech's lead in the 61st minute with his first career goal – a curling effort from outside the box after settling a headed clearance by the visitors.
The Hokies were able to push the scoreline to three for the first time this season when Pugh benefited from some crafty passing by Misei Yoshizawa and Ethan Ballek to guide the ball past the charging keeper in the 71st minute.
While High Point pulled one back just three minutes later, Tech saw out the fixture for its final 16 minutes to clinch its fifth result of the year at Thompson Field.
Virginia Tech's three goals were the most by the Hokies in a game since downing Longwood, 4-0, on Sept. 20, 2022, and Tech tied its season highs in shots (19) and shots on frame (8).
The Hokies will jump back into ACC play on the road this Friday at 7 p.m. against Clemson.
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Gallery: (9-26-2023) MSOC: High Point Match