Virginia Tech men’s soccer kept a clean sheet for the second straight game in its 2-0 victory over UNC Asheville on Tuesday.
“Love the effort,” Tech midfielder Ethan Hackenberg said after the win. “Everyone put in 110%. We’re all dead tired. Gotta enjoy that win. A shutout’s really important early in the season, we’re learning how to win. It’s these games before ACC play that are really important.”
Though the Bulldogs (1-1) had 11 total shots, the Hokies (2-0) held them to just two on goal — both of which veteran goalkeeper Cooper Wenzel saved. The best of UNC Asheville’s chances came in the 67th minute when midfielder Edvin Grolimund tried to place a shot in the bottom left corner from outside the box, but Wenzel punched the chance away.
The back line of Noe Uwimana, Floki Stephensen, Trey Gardiner and Willie Cardona has been solid through two games, as has Wenzel.
“I think they’ve just locked it down,” Tech head coach Mike Brizendine said. “Not a lot of teams have broken us down. I think our press has been pretty good. So one of the things we’re trying to work on is limiting our mistakes because that’s when people are catching us.”
“If you keep them out of the back of the net, you can’t lose,” Hackenberg said. “That’s the mentality right now.”
Hackenberg opened the campaign for Tech in the 31st minute, just three minutes after subbing on. The senior drew a foul inside the 18-yard box and cooly converted the ensuing penalty for his first goal in the maroon and orange.
Ethan Hackenberg slots home a penalty for the #Hokies to make it 1-0. Cue Free Bird. pic.twitter.com/4VyL1x9dim
— David Cunningham (@therealdcunna) August 27, 2024
The Pittsburgh, Pa., native transferred from Coastal Carolina last offseason. After scoring twice for the Chanticleers in two seasons, he played in the Hokies’ final seven games of 2023, registering five shots. But he looked sharp and created some dangerous chances on the right wing for Tech on Tuesday, including the one that set up the penalty.
“Willie [Cardona] played the exact ball I wanted — me and Willie have done that in practice a hundred times,” Hackenberg said. “Willie’s my roommate, he knows me better than almost anyone on this team and he knew I’ll be making that run. The first touch I took, I felt contact, I go down and it’s a pen. … And then I walked over to the spot, I picked my spot and I put it there.”
Similar to their 4-0 win over North Florida to open the season, the Hokies scored within the first five minutes of the second half and set the tone. This time it was Malick Thiaw, who was played in by Gardiner over the top. He sprinted around the Bulldog center back, took a touch and chipped the keeper in the 48th minute.
The ball from Trey, the finish from Malick. 🤌 pic.twitter.com/PZxMTuKlKC
— Virginia Tech Men’s Soccer (@HokiesMSoccer) August 27, 2024
It was the first collegiate goal for the junior from Marseille, France, who joined the Tech program this summer.
“It’s huge,” Brizendine said. “… That kid, I think he’s going to be good as the season goes on.”
Through two games, Tech’s scored six goals from five different players, a small taste of its added depth. Samy Kolby leads the team with two while CJ Coppola, Noe Uwimana, Hackenberg and Thiaw each have one.
Like Brizendine alluded to after the opening win, it feels like the Hokies have different guys who can step up any given day.
“One of our heaviest hitters isn’t [even] playing right now in Declan Quill,” Brizendine said. “So we have some firepower. That’s why when we roll up to Kentucky — our next game — we will be able to come after them.”
It’s the first 2-0 start for Virginia Tech since 2019, when it kicked off the season with a 4-0 record. It’s the first time the Hokies have opened the year with back-to-back clean sheets since 2016, too.
Hokies’ Starting XI: Wenzel; Uwimana, Stephensen, Gardiner, Cardona; Yohannes, Hensley, Perez; Roche, Sullins, Kolby
Box Score: Virginia Tech 2, UNC Asheville 0
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