Hokies push six past Winthrop on Tuesday night

It was goals galore for Tech, which netted six goals for the first time since Oct. 4, 2016, against VMI (7-1). The Hokies’ last shutout victory of six-or-more goals came on Oct. 9, 2007 (8-0, vs. VMI), which was the last time they had six-or-more unique scorers, as well.

Ethan Hackenberg started the scoring in the 11^th minute, as he received a ball above the box from Mathias Yohannes, then struck the ball into the bottom-right corner of the goal past the outstretched Winthrop goalkeeper.

The goal was Hackenberg’s team-high fourth of the season, but his first from open play.

It didn’t take much longer for another first on the season, as Andy Sullins unleashed a left-footed strike from distance that tucked tightly into the bottom-left corner of the net. The 16^th-minute strike was Sullins’ first goal of the year.

For a time, it seemed that Tech might head to the locker room with a two-goal lead, but Malick Thiaw flipped the script in the 43^rd minute. Making his first appearance since Sept. 28, the Frenchman dispossessed a Winthrop defender outside the box, then calmly slotted a finish past the keeper for his third of the season.

The Hokies needed one more to match their season-high scoring mark in just the first half and Yonis Kireh helped them meet that mark in the 45^th minute.

On a free-kick delivered by Ian Marcano, Kireh found himself free in the box to direct a header into the goal. The score was Kireh’s second in three games.

Virginia Tech’s goal-scoring antics were reeled in during the second half, while the back line and Wenzel remained impenetrable. In the 77^th minute, Wenzel made way for Timi Adams to make his season debut. On his exit, Wenzel secured his sixth shutout of the season – tied for most in the ACC.

As time winded down, Oliver Roche was taken down inside the box setting up Alex Perez to slot home a penalty in the 77^th minute.

Roche was rewarded for his work in the 88^th minute, as he tapped home a ball sent across the box by CJ Coppola to wrap up the Hokies’ six-goal evening.

Tech, which moves to 5-1-1 at home, will take the road on Saturday for its final road match of the regular season against Wake Forest.