Hokie ClubBLACSKBURG – Only one goal separated Virginia Tech and No. 10 Duke on Friday night at Thompson Field, as the Blue Devils capitalized on a strike in the 53rd minute to claim a 1-0 victory.
The Hokie were sound defensively for most of the night against a potent Blue Devils attack that scored 15 goals in its previous two games. However, a lapse at the back saw 10th-ranked Duke take a one-goal lead that it wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the night.
Virginia Tech didn’t muster many opportunities in the first half, but was quick to extinguish any opportunities the visitors had, as well.
Just eight minutes into the second frame, Duke’s Drew Kerr ushered a powerful strike into the back of the net with his left foot. The Blue Devils’ Kamran Acito played a long ball over top Tech’s defense which fell to Kerr in stride, who hammered home the goal.
After conceding, the Hokies were on the front foot with opportunities for the remainder of the night.
Ethan Hackenberg had a good look at his second header-goal in two games in the 62nd minute, as he rose to a ball delivered by Mathias Yohannes, but Wessel Speel made a full extension to push the shot away.
Perhaps Tech’s best look of the evening fell in the 70th minute, as CJ Coppola had a ball fall fortunately to him in the box that he sent across goal. Carter Hensley reached out his leg to get a touch, but a pair of Duke defenders threw their bodies on the line to protect the net. Following the sequence, the ref looked for a possible handball on video review, but no decision was granted.
The Hokies never found a breakthrough and finished without a goal for just the fourth time this season.
Sitting at 7-5-2 on the season, the Tech now enters its final week of the regular season with home fixtures against Davidson (Oct. 29) and Clemson (Nov. 1) on the horizon.