Newcomers play big role in Tech's win over North Florida
BLACKSBURG – Led by two super strikes from Samy Kolby in the first half, Virginia Tech cruised to a season-opening 4-0 win over North Florida on Thursday night.
The Hokies, who only had a one-shot advantage (12-11) over the visiting Ospreys, made the most of their opportunities in their largest season-opening win since defeating Mars Hill, 11-0, in 1993.
Virginia Tech boasted six newcomers – two freshmen and four transfers – in its starting lineup, while four more made appearances off the bench.
In the early stages of the match, Tech was slow to acclimate, as North Florida looked dangerous going forward. Senior transfer Cooper Wenzel was called on early with a point-blank save less than a minute into the game.
However, as the game progressed, the Hokies found their Thompson Field footing.
A flurry of substitutions in the 31st minute, including Marcos Escoe, Malick Thiaw and CJ Coppola, allowed Kolby to adjust his position on the field and unlocked a pair of opportunities that the Charlotte, N.C. native ultimately capitalized on.
After receiving a layoff from fresh-legged Coppola, Kolby took a touch forward then unleashed a left-footed shot a few steps outside the box that kept growing until it rippled the top left corner of the net.
Just seven minutes later, Kolby doubled his luck after receiving a precise ball from Willie Cardona on the right, cutting back to his left and delivering a line drive to the bottom right corner.
With that strike, Tech took a 2-0 lead into the half in its first season-opening home contest since 2015.
Unsatisfied out of the break, Coppola intervened in the Kolby show with a left-footed goal of his own. The Saint Louis transfer used a shot fake with his right foot to open the defender on the right side of the box before finishing to the far left corner just three minutes into the second half.
Tech’s scoring was capped in the 54th minute when Noe Uwimana curled a free-kick, won by Marcos Escoe, from inches outside the box into the right side of the net.
The goals settled in the final 30 minutes of the match, as Tech’s back line protected a clean sheet – its first in a season opener since 2017.
Wenzel made four saves in net, including two superb stops before the opening scores then one from close range in the dying seconds of the match.
With their first win in a season opener since 2019, the Hokies head into their Tuesday matchup with UNC Asheville looking for a 2-0 start at home.
