Tech men's soccer advances to Elite Eight after upsetting No. 7 Indiana in overtime

When No. 7 Indiana scored with just 14 minutes left in regulation, it looked like the Virginia Tech men’s soccer team had lost its momentum, composure and control of the game. The Hokies had just had a yellow card and foul called on them in the span of one minute while giving up a goal to a team that had been attacking fiercely all game.

Virginia Tech would survive this crucial point of the game by substituting in junior midfielder Forrest White. The game seemed to come to a calm, and the junior would come up clutch in the Hokies' 2–1 overtime victory.

The Hokies had advanced to the Sweet 16 after rallying to upset No. 10 Charlotte, but this game was different. While Charlotte had some offensive power, the Hoosiers were relentless in their attack. Indiana entered the game on its home turf with confidence after defeating Akron in the round of 32. The Hoosiers had three shot attempts in the first 13 minutes and 24 for the game overall.

Tech goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard came up big all game, tallying nine saves, and the Hokies were able to regain some control. As the Hokies' strong play from early in the first half returned, when they had scored back in the 19th minute, Virginia Tech found itself with another chance to win in regulation as junior Marcelo Acuna fired a shot with 14 seconds left. The shot thudded off the crossbar just to barely miss and bring an exciting end to regulation.

Indiana started overtime with the same aggression that it brought at the start of the game. The Hoosiers got two shot attempts up in the first two minutes, but both did not connect.

After substitutions by both teams, the momentum went back to the Hokies. In the 97th minute, White got the ball, pushed forward, stepped into his shot and let go with his left foot. The shot from 18 yards out was pulling and looked as if it would miss like Acuna’s take earlier.

Instead, the curling shot hit the far post and bounced into the opposite side of the net. White scored his first goal of the season, and the Hokies found themselves advancing as the underdogs yet again.

Unlikely players continued to step up for the Hokies this NCAA Tournament. White joined freshman striker Nico Quashie, whose first two goals of his career carried the Hokies past the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

With just two starting seniors on this roster, the future looks exceedingly promising for the Hokies as young players receive valuable postseason experience.

Virginia Tech will likely have to complete another upset to make it to the Final Four. The Hokies (13–4–4) now advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 2007–2008 season to play the winner of ACC rival No. 2 Wake Forest and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The Hokies did not play either team this season and last played Wake Forest in 2014, winning 2–0.