Virginia Rallies for Dramatic 3-2 OT Win Over Virginia Tech

Oct. 19, 2012

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s soccer team came back from a 2-0 second-half deficit to score a 3-2 overtime victory over Virginia Tech on Friday evening in front of 3,555 fans on Senior Night at Klöckner Stadium. Zach Carroll (Fr., Grand Blanc, Mich.) headed home the golden goal with just 12 seconds remaining in overtime to extend UVa’s unbeaten streak against the Hokies to seven matches.

“We responded well in the second half,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “We played inspired in the second half, and getting that first goal got the crowd into it, which really ignited us. For this young group to do what they did tonight says a lot to me. We had to push every button in the book, but they responded.”

Three Cavaliers scored goals, while Scott Thomsen (Fr., Brick, N.J.) notched a pair of assists off corner kicks.

Virginia Tech (5-7-3, 0-5-1 ACC) scored the lone goal of the first half. After a cross skidded through the UVa defense and clanged off the far post, David Clemens collected the rebound and tapped it home from short distance for the goal.

Virginia (8-6-1, 2-4-0 ACC) sent extra pressure in the second half, but the Hokies came back on a counter to take a 2-0 edge in the 55th minute. Daniel Lauretano sent in a long service to the far post and put Kai Marshall in a perfect position to easily knock home his first goal of the year.

The Cavaliers’ comeback started in the 70th minute when Marcus Salandy-Defour (Fr., Kensington, Md.) drove down the left flank, then penetrated through several Hokie defenders into the box and chipped a shot past goalkeeper Kyle Renfro for his second goal in as many matches.

UVa scored just under four minutes later off a Thomsen corner kick when he found Will Bates (Sr., Chester, Va.), who one-timed it past Renfro for the tying goal. It marked Bates’ ACC-leading 10th goal of the year and his 44th career score, which is seventh most in program history.

The Cavaliers nearly moved ahead in the 84th minute when Chris Somerville (So., West Chester, Pa.) broke free in the box, but his shot rolled just wide of the far post.

Virginia took three shots in overtime, and each was a quality scoring chance. In the 94th minute Thomsen served a free kick toward the far post and Darius Madison (Fr., Philadelphia, Pa.) put a head on it, but Renfro charged in to make an outstanding save. With just under a minute remaining, Madison charged into the box and cranked a low liner which caromed off the near post.

Virginia forced another corner kick with just under 30 seconds left, and the Cavaliers again capitalized when Carroll headed a ball in traffic just inside the near post past Renfro for the golden goal, his third score of the year.

Virginia out-shot Virginia Tech, 17-9, including 10-4 during the second half and overtime. The Cavaliers took six corner kicks, compared to four for Virginia Tech. UVa committed 20 fouls, while Tech was whistled for 17.

Virginia controlled possession throughout the game, with a decisive 67.22-32.78 percent possession advantage over the Hokies. The Cavaliers also were successful on 79 percent of their pass attempts, compared to 55 percent for Virginia Tech.

UVa goalkeeper Spencer LaCivita (So., Raleigh, N.C.) made five saves, while Renfro made four saves for the Hokies.

Virginia heads to Boston College next Friday (Oct. 26) for a 7 p.m. ACC match. The Cavaliers wrap up the regular season Nov. 1 at NC State.