Hokie ClubPALO ALTO, Calif. – The Hokies, who were persistent on both offense and defense, drop a 3-1 contest at No. 3 Stanford Sunday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech offered up a heavy defensive presence through the first 15 minutes of the match, fending off multiple Cardinal attacks seen through four shots and three corner kicks. Sam Joseph reacted quickly to punch a direct shot from No. 3 Stanford’s Shane de Flores in the 27th minute to keep the net empty.
The Cardinal broke through in the 34th minute with a strike from the top of the box that snuck just past the extended hand of Joseph to take the 1–0 lead. Tech responded late in the half with back-to-back looks from Yanis Belatrache and Dagur Traustason in the 41st minute, but both attempts were saved.
Three minutes into the second half, No. 3 Stanford doubled their advantage as they connected on the corner kick set piece. The Hokies rallied, earning a corner in the 61st minute, that pulled Tech within one, 2–1, as the ball deflected off a Cardinal head.
The Cardinal doubled their advantage, 3-1, in the 82nd minute. Beltran Alvarez’s attempt to close back in on No. 3 Stanford’s lead in the 84th minute was stopped and was the last look the Hokies got on frame before the final whistle.
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech drops to 2-2-3 on the season and 0-2-1 in ACC play
- The Hokies move to 1-1-1 in 2025 against top 25 opponents
- No. 3 Stanford held the advantage in both shots, 16-9, and corner kicks, 12-4
- Five different Hokies placed a shot on frame
- Goalkeeper Sam Joseph made four saves on the evening, a season-high
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech remains on the road, traveling over to ETSU on Monday Sept. 29 for a 7 p.m. start.