Men's soccer advances to Sweet 16 of NCAA tournament with 3–2 win over Charlotte
Marcelo Acuna (11) moves the ball towards the goal at Thompson Field.
Chris Zaboji / Collegiate Times
Not many expected the game to be high scoring, and not many expected Virginia Tech to win; yet the Hokies defeated Charlotte 3–2 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Hokies entered the second round of the tournament after defeating East Tennessee State 1–0 off freshman striker Nico Quashie’s first collegiate goal. Tonight, the freshman came up key again with the eventual game winner with two and a half minutes to go.
Playing the 49ers, who had earned a bye, the Hokies quickly fell behind in the 19th minute. Charlotte kept attacking and was in complete control for the first half. Even with its great defensive play, Virginia Tech was fighting to keep its small deficit. The 49ers entered halftime with the lead, 1–0.
In the second half things completely changed as Tech senior forward Marcelo Acuna took over. Acuna quickly scored five minutes into the second half with a penalty kick at the 50th minute and again from inside the box just 10 minutes later.
The Hokies had shifted the momentum with a 2–1 score. Neither team was in control until the 49ers scored late, tying up the game. Charlotte midfielder Cha Bronico pushed a kick in the back of the net with just 7:30 left in regulation.
Virginia Tech has struggled in extra play scenarios this season. The Hokies lost in penalty kicks in the ACC Tournament to Boston College and failed to win in their last three regular season games that went to overtime tying all three, including against Charlotte earlier in the season. Tonight, Virginia Tech closed out the game before extra play was needed, by a player who has been hot as of late.
Quashie, who got the ball at midfield, pushed forward and drilled the eventual game winner past the goalie with 2:30 to go in the game. The freshman’s only two goals this season have been in the NCAA Tournament.
Tonight’s game came as a strong contrast to the low-scoring game the two teams had in their previous match-up this season. That game ended in a 0–0 double-overtime draw. In the victory, Virginia Tech also scored as many goals against Charlotte goalie Elliot Panicco at home as he has given up all season. The game is important in showing that Virginia Tech can win in other ways then its nine shutouts this season.
The Hokies improve on their previous 1–6–2 record against the 49ers to now 2–6–2, and picked up head coach Mike Brizendine’s second NCAA win as a head coach (both this postseason).
Virginia Tech (12–4–4) advances to play Indiana (12–1–7) in the Sweet 16 on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 1 p.m. in Bloomington, Indiana.