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Oct. 29, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia Tech’s Patrick Nyarko knocked in the game winning goal in the 97th minute to lift the No. 12 Hokies over No. 5 Virginia, 2-1, in overtime Saturday night at Klockner Stadium in front of 3,428 fans. The Cavaliers (11-3-2, 5-2-0 ACC) dropped only their second game in Atlantic Coast Conference action while Virginia Tech (10-3-4, 3-1-3 ACC) picked up its first point in the Adelphia Commonwealth Challenge. Virginia still leads 1.5-1.0.
“I thought we did everything we needed to do to win the game, but lost our concentration on No. 12 (Nyarko) for a split second,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “It ended up costing us the game. Now, we have to regroup and get ready to play at Wake Forest.”
Nyarko collected a loose ball after Virginia goalkeeper Ryan Burke (Cumberland Foreside, Maine) deflected a header out of the box. Nyarko gathered the ball and flicked a shot far post to give the Hokies the 2-1 win in overtime.
Virginia was in good position to pick up the win with nine minutes remaining in regulation. The Cavaliers out-shot the Hokies, 6-4, and controlled possession in the second half. Ian Holder (Norfolk, Va.) scored his third goal of the season in the 81st minute putting the Cavaliers ahead, 1-0. Holder completed a bang-bang play. He chipped in a goal off a header from Adam Cristman (Glen Allen, Va.) who received a pass into the box from Matt Poole (Reston, Va.). Poole and Cristman were both credited with assists.
Four minutes late, the Hokies tied the game. Virginia Tech scored at the 85:03 mark when Nyarko got loose on a breakaway off Hokie goalkeeper Chase Harrison’s punt. Nyarko beat an UVa defender and punched in a goal just past Burke tying it, 1-1.
Virginia had a couple of opportunities in the first half to jump out to an early lead. Cristman broke loose twice. His best chance came in the 36th minute when he squeezed a shot by Harrison, which looked to be going in for the game’s first goal. Virginia Tech’s Brad Collins cleared the ball before it could cross the line for the save.
The Cavaliers had another opportunity early in the second half. Cristman’s shot was headed off the line by another Virginia Tech defender in the 65th minute.
For the game, Virginia Tech outshot Virginia, 12-9 and held a 7-5 advantage on corner kicks. The Hokies took five shots in overtime. Burke played 97 minutes in goal for the Cavaliers and added two saves. Virginia Tech finished with two team saves.
The Cavaliers will travel to No. 19 Wake Forest for its final regular season game. Kick-off is set for 8 p.m. next Friday. The game will be televised live on the Fox Soccer Channel.
1 2 OT F#12 Va. Tech (10-3-4, 3-1-3 ACC) 0 1 1 2
#5 Virginia (11-3-2, 5-2-0 ACC) 0 1 0 1
Scoring Summary
1. UVa. Holder, 3 (Cristman, Poole) 81:14
2. VT. Nyarko, 7 (Harrison) 85:03
3. VT, Nyarko, 8 (unassisted) 97:13
Statistics:
Shots: UVa 9, VT 12
Corners: UVa 5, VT 7
Saves: UVa 2, VT 2
Fouls: UVa 16, VT 11
Cards: UVa (Poole), UVa (Barlow), UVa (Colaluca)