Men's soccer ties Wright State in overtime thriller

As the clock approached 90 minutes, Virginia Tech’s Marcelo Acuna drove with the ball down the field. In the final seconds, the junior took a hard kick from the right side of the box. Acuna hit the ball with his left foot and it was on target, but Wright State’s goalie Will Lukowski dove with a full extension and saved the ball.

That was the Hokies’ last chance to win in the final seconds of the second overtime period. The game had ended in a 1–1 tie. This is just the second time the Hokies haven’t won on their home turf.

Neither team could score in the first half of the game. In fact, it took until the 63rd minute for a point to be scored. Wright State would get on the board first as Jackson Dietrich’s corner kick found Kaique Fernandes for the easy put in. However, the Hokies quickly answered with a goal from an unexpected hero.

Freshman Brendan Moyers took an undeniable kick that went far post, striking the back of the net in the air. The goal came from inside the penalty box and tied the game in the 67th minute. This was the first collegiate goal for Moyers and the last score of the game for either team, despite two overtime periods.

Virginia Tech led in almost every measurable statistic: shot attempts, corner kicks and saves, with junior keeper Ben Lundgaard making an impressive eight saves. However, Wright State did have more shots on goal with nine, while the Hokies had just six.

“We had a couple of sweetheart chances and they did too. It was very back and forth,” head coach Mike Brizendine said after the game. “It was going to be who finished their chance. Neither of us did.”

Yet, Brizendine was confident heading to overtime.

“What I tell my team varies on the game. With this one, I felt comfortable with where we were. We just had to keep going and finish one of our chances. We did not tonight, but it’s experience," Brizendine said.

The tie brings Wright State to 7–4–2 and the No. 15 Hokies to 9–2–2. While the Rowdy Raiders sit second in the Horizon League, the Hokies stand third in the ACC Coastal.

“That team right there will be first or second in (its) league at the end of (its) season. Playing (that team) will just help us in the end,” Brizendine said.

The Hokies have now been to three overtime games. They won one against a tough Ohio State team and tied both Virginia and Wright State.

“We need to do what we can to get the group back as healthy as possible, and that’s going to be our focus in the next 48 hours to prepare for Syracuse,” Brizendine said. “We’re going to play one of the best teams in the country. We need to be healthy for them.”

Virginia Tech plays at No. 10 Syracuse Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m.