#22 Hokies Get By Orange In ACC Tournament First Round

Wednesday, October 31

Blacksburg, VA

7 PM

Syracuse University

7-6-4

Virginia Tech

10-5-3

Syracuse

Virginia Tech

Tajon Buchanan on the attack in the ACC Tournament First Round.

#22 Hokies Get By Orange In ACC Tournament First Round

10/31/2018 10:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Syracuse's second-half comeback came up short in a 3-1 setback to No. 22 Virginia Tech in the first round of the ACC Men's Soccer Tournament in Blacksburg. The loss gives the Orange a 7-6-4 record.

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
Virginia Tech (10-5-3) scored the only goal of the first half in the 17th minute. Syracuse goalkeeper Hendrik Hilpert made a leaping save on a James Kasak shot, resulting in a Hokies' corner. The ball was served into the box where it deflected to David Sanz at the top of the box. Sanz put his shot inside the right post to put Virginia Tech on top, 1-0.

Kristo Strickler added to the Hokies' lead in the 56th minute. Sophomore Sondre Norheim headed the ball back to Hilpert and as he went up to coral the ball Strickler headed it into the back of the net for his ninth goal of the year.

Syracuse cut the lead in the half in the 84th minute. Senior Jan Breitenmoser played the ball across the box to freshman Ryan Raposo. Raposo's hard shot deflected off the goalkeeper into the net to bring the Orange within one at 2-1.

Syracuse continued to send numbers forward and Virginia Tech took advantage on a counter attack for its third goal in the 88th minute for the 3-1 final.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH MCINTYRE
"In the first half we were very poor and credit Virginia Tech which was really on top of the game as it had good ball movement," said Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre. "I thought we responded well in the second half. We had 21 shots in the second half and put them under pressure. We gave up a soft third goal and that made things difficult. Now we have to hope that our body of work is good enough to give us a chance to play in the national tournament."

UP NEXT
Syracuse will learn if it will receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament when the field is announced on Monday, Nov. 12.