UVA defeated Virginia Tech, 1-0, Wednesday evening in a first-round match in the ACC Men’s Soccer Championship at Klöckner Stadium. Todd Wharton (Jr., Glen Allen, Va.) scored on a penalty kick in the 55th minute as the eighth-seeded Cavaliers (10-5-2) advanced to play in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Sunday against top-seeded Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Virginia and Notre Dame played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 21 in Charlottesville.
“We got through it and got the win and now we get a good, proper three-day rest,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “We are very familiar with Notre Dame, as they are with us. It should be a great game.”
Seeded ninth in the tournament, Virginia Tech ends its season with a 7-8-2 record. UVa now is unbeaten in its last 10 matches against Virginia Tech. With the result, Virginia reached double figures in wins for the 34th consecutive season, including all 19 seasons with Gelnovatch at the helm of the program.
The match was a bruiser throughout. Six cards were issued, including a red card and three yellows against the Hokies. In all, 26 fouls were called.
Both goalkeepers made critical saves for their teams. Virginia goalkeeper Calle Brown (R-Sr., Leesburg, Va.) stopped seven shots, while Virginia Tech keeper Ben Lockler made five saves.
UVa held a 20-9 edge in shots, while Virginia Tech put seven shots on target to six for Virginia. The Cavaliers took five corner kicks, while the Hokies recorded three. The Hokies were whistled for 16 fouls and UVa 10.
After piling up scoring chances and out-shooting the Hokies 12-5 in the first half, Virginia finally struck early in the second half in the 55th minute following a frenetic sequence. After a Riggs Lennon (So., Paradise Valley, Ariz.) header was deflected by Lockler off the post, the ball was sent back in and the Hokies’ Brad Vorv was called for a foul deep in the box. Wharton then stepped to the penalty spot and buried the kick for his second goal of the year. It also marked the Cavaliers’ first PK of the season.
The Hokies were forced to play a man down for the final 25:50 when Merlin Baus was shown a red card following a dangerous tackle near the sideline.
Share
Chris Graham
