On Friday night vs. North Carolina at Thompson Field, Virginia Tech forward Oliver Roche’s left-footed volley in the 77th minute was canceled out by UNC’s Quenzi Huerman’s goal in the 82nd, and the match finished in a 1-1 draw.
“I thought we were excellent until the delay,” Tech head coach Mike Brizendine. “We were fine afterwards — [Huerman] just hit a bomb — but I’m frustrated because this is the kind of game that you want three points.”
Roche’s goal was the result of solid build-up play from the Hokies (0-2-3, 0-0-1 ACC). Center midfielder Mayola Kinyua played Declan Quill down the right sideline and served Roche a ball on a silver platter at the top of the six-yard box. All he had to do was tap it home.
𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗟❗️
OLIVER ROCHE DELIVERS!
🦃 » 1 | 🐏 » 0 pic.twitter.com/Vx8h3EnNr0
— Virginia Tech Men’s Soccer (@HokiesMSoccer) September 9, 2023
Roche, a freshman, scored his second goal in eight days, converting shots in two of his first five matches.
The Hokies, who lost all eight ACC matches a year ago, earned their first point in conference play since Oct. 8, 2021. Friday’s match improved Tech’s all time record against the Tar Heels (2-0-2, 0-0-1 ACC) to 4–18–2.
Huerman received a pass slightly beyond midfield, dribbled through Hokies defenders and struck the ball from outside the 18 into the top right corner of the net, past diving Virginia Tech goalkeeper Timi Adams. The equalizer, Huerman’s team-high fourth goal of the 2023 season, came soon after a 42-minute lightning delay
What a strike from 1️⃣1️⃣!
📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/9tkCCpDFkN
— UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) September 9, 2023
“We have to get a shutout,” Brizendine said. “We’re in ACC play. If we can get shutouts, we’ll win games. We’re scoring in every game. We fixed our scoring issue. We have to get shutouts.”
Hokies forward Marcos Escoe subbed on about midway through each half, immediately creating chances for the home side. Escoe, a freshman from Costa Rica playing in his third collegiate match, took two shots, both of which came on counter attacks soon after he entered the game.
Although Virginia Tech and North Carolina combined for 17 shots, neither team scored until more than three-quarters through the match. The Hokies scored their first goal, then had to go sit in the locker room because of lightning in the area. They hoped to hold on for the last 9:36 of the match and leave Thompson Field with a win, but they surrendered a goal soon after.
“When we came out here [after the delay], [I told them] you’re fighting for every second,” Brizendine said. “You’re fighting for every inch and that we need to keep the ball. We can’t just bunker down.”
Friday marked Virginia Tech’s third straight draw after 1-1 results against Loyola (Md.) and Davidson. Tech had not tied three consecutive matches since 2005 (Penn State, Boston College and Duke).
Looking back on the disappointing draw, Brizendine noted small lapses in his team’s play that make a significant difference.
“Some of [the problem] is our fortune has got to change,” he said. “And again, we just take little mental breaks and it’s killing us.”
Up next for the Hokies is a trip to Louisville on Friday, Sept. 15 (8 p.m. ET), a place where they’ve won three in a row.
Box Score: Virginia Tech 1, North Carolina 1
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