BLACKSBURG – Conor Pugh won and hammered home a 66th-minute penalty to secure a 1-1 draw for Virginia Tech against William & Mary on Tuesday evening.
Despite holding the edge in shots and corners, the Hokies struggled to get momentum rolling in their direction against their in-state competition.
After Pugh slotted away his penalty kick, which he earned after being cut down by the Tribe goalkeeper as he attempted to round him, the Hokies seemed to finally have an opportunity to go ahead in the match. However, that energy was redirected just eight minutes later when Theo Drennan picked up his second yellow of the match and relegated Tech to 10 men for the rest of the contest.
Virginia Tech still possessed the ball and moved forward following the red card, but the full-steam ahead approach was compromised.
The Tribe struggled to take full advantage of being a man up – registering just one of their three total shots on target during the final 16-minute spell.
William & Mary found the back of the net in the 16th minute after a free kick was whipped into the box and ricocheted off Grant Howard and Timi Adams before falling conveniently to Aidan Morrison's feet to slot it home from point-blank range.
Adams went on to make two saves on the evening, as the Hokies recorded their fourth 1-1 draw of the season at home.
Virginia Tech will be back in action at Thompson Field on Friday at 6 p.m. to face No. 8 Notre Dame for BELIEVE Night.
Gallery: (10-10-2023) MSOC: William & Mary Match