Virginia Plays Virginia Tech to Scoreless Draw
Sept. 30, 2016
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. ÃÆ’¢Ãƒ¢’¬” The Virginia men’s soccer team played No. 18 Virginia Tech to a scoreless draw Friday on a rainy evening at KlÃÆ’¶ckner Stadium. The game was part of the Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia 529.
Virginia (4-2-3, 0-2-2 ACC) ran its unbeaten streak against Virginia Tech (7-2-1, 1-2-2) to a dozen matches, dating to the 2005 season.
“You never want to tie, but I’m really proud of the guys,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “I thought we deserved to win. Virginia Tech’s goalkeeper (Ben Lundgaard) stood on his head, the one play on Eddie (Opoku), getting his hand down and the kick save. Those are goals nine times out of 10. If we play like we played today with a mature, professional performance, those things will go our way. It was a very good performance.”
Virginia out-shot Virginia Tech, 16-12, and put seven shots on goal to five for the Hokies. Both goalkeepers earned clean sheets ÃÆ’¢Ãƒ¢’¬” Lundgaard and Virginia’s Jeff Caldwell (Jr., Todd, N.C.) ÃÆ’¢Ãƒ¢’¬” and each came up with timely and acrobatic saves. Caldwell has recorded back-to-back shutouts and three this season.
After missing two matches with an injury, UVA forward Edward Opoku (So., Rye, N.Y.) stepped back into the lineup and was a force throughout, putting four shots on goal while creating chances for his running mates up top. Wesley Wade (So., South Orange, N.J.) recorded three shots on goal off the bench.
Tonight’s match was sponsored by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of University of Virginia Athletics. With tonight’s tie, each team has earned a half-point in the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash. The score for the Clash is now Virginia ÃÆ’¢Ãƒ¢’¬” 1.5 and Virginia Tech ÃÆ’¢Ãƒ¢’¬” 1.0. Learn more about Virginia529 and this competition at TheCommmonwealthClash.com.
Virginia remains home Tuesday (Oct. 4) to play Hofstra in a 7 p.m. match at KlÃÆ’¶ckner Stadium. The Cavaliers continue ACC play next Friday at No. 4 North Carolina.