Conor Pugh’s penalty kick in the 66th minute salvaged a 1-1 draw for Virginia Tech men’s soccer against William & Mary on Tuesday.
As Pugh sprinted into the 18-yard box to receive a through ball, Tribe (2-6-4, 1-2-2 CAA) goalkeeper Cole McNally tripped him, drawing a penalty for the Hokies (3-4-4, 2-2-1 ACC). Pugh placed his shot in the top right corner — the opposite direction of McNally’s dive — to equalize the match.
“I always had the same thing in my mind [approaching the kick]: just go right,” Pugh told Tech Sideline after the match. “I just had in my mind that I was going to score, so I think that’s what helped me.”
63’ | Pugh! We are level at Thompson!
📺 » https://t.co/S5S6sMTPhZ
📊 » https://t.co/KB4fOZIMbA🦃 » 1 | 🔰 » 1 pic.twitter.com/W6cLRMLyIc
— Virginia Tech Men’s Soccer (@HokiesMSoccer) October 10, 2023
Securing a point from William & Mary, however, was far from a given during most of the match. Tribe midfielder Aidan Morrison took a point-blank shot in the 16th minute, which Hokies keeper Timi Adams deflected, but he scored on the rebound, giving the away side an early lead.
16' 1H | W&M 1, VT 0
Come for the goal, stay for the @CJ7STROUD celly 😮💨
Aidan puts us in front!#GoTribe pic.twitter.com/jhBiL92f5M
— William & Mary Tribe Men's Soccer (@WMTribeMSoccer) October 10, 2023
Including his goal, Morrison was responsible for most of his team’s offense, recording all three of the Tribe’s shots on goal.
For the next 50 minutes, Tech played from behind.
“I think it was a rough game for us,” Pugh said. “I don’t think we were on the ball tonight.”
Statistically, the Hokies played better than their opponent in many areas, holding 53% of possession and taking three more shots. Tech spent 30% of its possession near the Tribe’s 18-yard box, receiving numerous chances to score. The fact that it couldn’t find that go-ahead goal, resulting in a tie against a CAA team when it badly needed a win, was deeply frustrating to Hokies head coach Mike Brizendine.
“[William & Mary is a] great team and well coached, well organized,” Brizendine said. “They should have won the game. I’m just disappointed that our guys didn’t step up and meet the challenge.”
Tech lost midfielder Theo Drennan in the 74th minute after his second yellow card of the evening, which came eight minutes after his first infraction. The Hokies didn’t concede any goals while a man down in the final 16 minutes, but Brizendine had to make adjustments.
“We changed our formation. … Guys showed a little life, which was nice,” Brizendine said.
Pugh expressed a desire to move past Tuesday’s draw, while also acknowledging what the team needs to fix moving forward. Coastal Division leader No. 8 Notre Dame (8-1-3, 4-0-1 ACC) ventures to Blacksburg on Friday for a 6 p.m. ET kickoff on the ACC Network.
“We just need to put this in the past, obviously think about it, but [we need to] just prepare for Friday,” Pugh said. “We need to start better and we need to manage the game better. As players, we came into this game with the wrong mindset.”
“… Friday is going to be a huge fight for us, but I think it’s good now that we have a chip on our shoulder. I think we’re ready.”
Box Score: Virginia Tech 1, William & Mary 1
Print
Go Hokies!