Hokies bounce back with 4-0 win over Queens (NC)

BLACKBURG – Virginia Tech pushed past the elements on Tuesday evening at Thompson Field and picked up a 4-0 win over Queens (NC), highlighted by three first-half goals during a torrential downpour of rain.

Oliver Roche, Declan Quill and Ian Marcano netted a trio of goals in the first half-hour of the game to give the Hokies a comfortable cushion early, while Cooper Wenzel made some timely stops in net to keep the Royals at bay.

Captain Willie Cardona assisted the first two goals of the evening, the first two points of his Virginia Tech career.

At the break, Tech had 18 shots, which alone would’ve been the second-highest single-game tally (22, vs. Presbyterian) of the season. The Hokies recorded 31 shots total, which was the highest tally since they put up 37 against Alabama A&M in 2010.

In the second half, Virginia Tech had a more subdued offensive effort, despite the clear skies. However, Alex Perez netted the Hokies’ fourth in the 83^rd minute to cap off the night of scoring.

Thanks to another impressive showing by Tech’s backline, headlined by centerbacks Trey Gardiner and Floki Stephensen, and an attentive Wenzel, the Hokies saw out the second half to secure a fifth clean sheet this season.

With the win, Virginia Tech moved to 6-2-1 and snapped a two-game losing streak. The Hokies are now 5-0-1 in non-conference play, including 4-0 at home with only one goal conceded at Thompson Field in that span.

Tech dives back into ACC play on Friday at 7 p.m. in Charlottesville, as it takes on rivals Virginia in the Commonwealth Clash.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Wenzel suffocated an early opportunity in the third minute by Ciro Bourlot Jaeggi, after the Royals found an opening on their right side of the box. It was the first of five saves for Wenzel. In the sixth minute, Wenzel over the bar another good look from Queens over the bar to keep the game scoreless.
• Roche netted his first goal of the season in the 13^th minute when Cardona found him in a narrow pocket of space before the Danish forward moved the ball to his left foot for the finish.
• Moments after sending a chance over the bar, Quill quickly responded by picking up a ball from Cardona and slotting it home from the center of the box.
• Wenzel came up big again when a Queens’ attacker beat his man on the dribble and forcer the senior ‘keeper to quickly close up space and smother another shot.
• Tech’s third goal of the half came after Carter Hensley controlled a punt from the Queens’ goalie, then played Declan Quill up the left side of the pitch, who dropped across that box a ball that Marcano latched onto and guided into the back of the net.
• The final big opportunity of the first half came when the Royals’ Oliver Kneer was in on goal in the 35^th minute, but Wenzel came off his line and embraced a collision with the forward to knock away the ball from danger.
• Floki Stephensen stood tall in the 48^th minute, as he absorbed two shots on the goal line to prevents Queens from scoring a scrappy goal off a corner kick.
• Sullins nearly had his moment in the 68^th minute when he rattled a shot from inside the 18-yard box off the crossbar.
• Perez put the finishing touches on Tech’s performance in the 83^rd minute as he drilled home a ball that CJ Coppola laid off to him from a Marcos Escoe cross into the box.