No. 10 UVA (1-0-2, 0-0-1 ACC) and No. 21 Virginia Tech (3-0-2, 0-0-1 ACC) each scored a goal in the first 91 seconds of the game but neither team was able to put home the go-ahead score in a 1-1 draw at Klöckner Stadium.
The Cavaliers found themselves down in the first minute of the contest when Virginia Tech’s Kristo Strickler corralled a ball inside the six off a long throw and punched it past the Virginia defense just 52 seconds into the game. It marked the first goal conceded by the Cavaliers this season.
Virginia responded 39 second later when Irakoze Donasiyano (Roanoke, Va.) crossed a ball to the head of Nathaniel Crofts (Sheffield, England) who beat Hokie goalkeeper Mathijs Swaneveld to the left side of the net. The goal for Crofts was the first of his UVA career and the assist by Donasiyano was the first point of his collegiate career.
“It (the goal) was a great response in a game like that,” head coach George Gelnovatch said. “Virginia Tech is a good team, they’re undefeated, they have haven’t lost a preseason game, a regular season game, they’re a good team. We’re on the younger side especially as it pertains to scoring goals and we’re still trying to figure ourselves out.”
The score went unchanged for the next 108 minutes and endured a 30-minute weather delay at the end of regulation. The match was originally scheduled for a 7 p.m. start but was pushed up with an imminent chance of severe weather.
After resuming action, Virginia used offensive onslaught to tally six shots, including two on target, in the first overtime session. It was Virginia Tech who then responded in the second extra session putting all three of its shots on target.
None of the Hokie attempts were able to get past Virginia goalkeeper Colin Shutler (Broadlands, Va.) who made two game-saving saves on Hokie breakaway opportunities in the second overtime. He established a new career-high with eight saves in the match.
“For the most part, other than the first minute of the game, we did a good job defensively,” Gelnovatch added. “Colin has done a good job when his number has been called.
The Cavaliers remain unbeaten against the Hokies in the previous 14 meetings and tie for the fifth time in a series that dates back to 1960. Virginia holds a 40-4-5 advantage in the all-time series.
Virginia will be back at home on Tuesday, Sept. 11 to host Marshall at Klöckner Stadium.
The Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia Five Two Nine is a head-to-head, points-based competition between the athletic teams at University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Commonwealth Clash encourages a friendly, statewide rivalry between the two schools across all school-sponsored sports with 22 individual event points on the line. The school that accumulates 11.5 points or more will be crowned the winner and take home the Commonwealth Clash trophy presented by Virginia Five Two Nine. Visit TheCommonwealthClash.com for more information and current standings.
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Chris Graham
