Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech drew No. 2 Clemson, 2-2, on Friday evening in its regular season finale.
The Hokies capitalized on their opportunities in the first half and pushed their way to a 2-0 lead. However, a goal late in the first half gave Clemson a sign of life before the second-ranked Tigers doubled their tally in the second half.
Both sides had chances early, although it was Cooper Wenzel who was tested with the more challenging stops early in the contest.
After the half hour mark, the Hokies ramped up their offensive efforts and eventually found the back of the net.
Carter Hensley played a perfectly weighted ball over the top to Noe Uwimana, who put a ball into the box in the direction of CJ Coppola. Before Coppola could latch onto it, Clemson’s goalkeeper pushed away the ball, but it hit directly off a defender and ricocheted into the back of the net.
Just minutes later, the Hokies doubled their lead when Oliver Roche pick-pocketed a defender and went directly in on goal. With no hesitation, the sophomore forward slotted home his fifth goal of the season.
Tech almost added on a third in the 38th minute when Ethan Hackenberg pushed a shot over the head of Clemson’s goalkeeper, but it rattled off the left goalpost.
With the door left slightly ajar, Clemson pulled itself back into the game in the 43rd minute with a goal from Ransford Gyan after a well-worked move on the left side of the pitch.
The Tigers emerged from the halftime break with a sense of urgency, which put Tech under pressure for much of the final 45 minutes.
After controlling possession for much of the first 30 minutes in the second half, Joran Gerbet headed the Tigers level off a free-kick in the 78th minute.
With the game tied, but the Hokies seeking a massive result, Tech found a groove in the closing minutes of the match and put up seven shots in search of winner. However, none would find the back of the net and the Hokies landed on a draw with a ranked opponent for the second time this season (at No. 23 Kentucky).