The Hunt For Unbeaten September

The Hokies took exception to a season-opening 4-0 trouncing at VCU, a loss that capped a four-game losing streak. They must have, as Tech’s torn off a 5-0-1 record and a no. 15 national ranking since.

The key to their unbeaten September has been unpredictability.

“I’ve never been on a team that’s this diversified,” said coach Oliver Weiss, “It makes us more unpredictable.”

Whereas in 2006 much of the scoring production relied on All-ACC first-teamer Patrick Nyarko, the leading scorers on this year’s squad are currently in a six-way tie at two goals. All but one of the starting eleven has scored a goal over the first six games. Even keeper Brendan Dunn has recorded an assist.

“Everyone has contributed in scoring, which is unheard of,” said Weiss, “I’m tickled to death that it’s happened this early.”

Senior captain Ben Nason, currently with two goals and an assist, made it clear that the team has a wider focus, “Our outside backs are getting forward so, it’s not just get the ball to Patrick. We’ve got a lot of players who can contribute.”

This attitude paid off in the Level 3 Golden Hurricane Classic, where Tech won the tournament outright. In the first televised soccer match in Virginia Tech history, the Hokies scored two goals in the final seven minutes to topple host no. 23 Tulsa, 3-2. Defender Bryan Collier scored the go-ahead goal with 23 seconds remaining.

A 3-1 domination of Oral Roberts capped off their sweep in Tulsa. Terry Boland led the Hokies with his first two goals of the season in the victory.

Conversely, on the defensive side unpredictability is not welcome, which is why they’re glad that factor’s been absent.

“We’re starting to become really cohesive,” said senior defender Marcus Reed, “We’ve finally got a set back-four, instead of changing people in and out a lot of times.”

Shuffling defensive lineups definitely hampered the Hokies defensively in ’06, but it’s much easier to avoid that this year due to the return of backs Alexander Baden and Collier, who missed great portions of last season due to injury.

In fact, Baden was noticeably absent in the 4-0 blemish against VCU in August, match that took place before he could pass the fitness test. Baden, who was injured for more than half of the previous season, changed the landscape of Tech’s defense, which has allowed slightly above one goal per game since his return.

“Well, for starters it was the arrival of our center back that made a huge difference,” said Weiss, “There were experienced guys that we missed last year, and that’s why our defense was down…They’re back so, consequently, we’re better”

James Gilson burst from out of nowhere to become a staple of the Virginia Tech defense. In only his second weekend with the starting job, his perfect corner set up the Georg Zehender equalizer in the second half of an eventual 1-1 tie at William and Mary on Saturday.

Gilson’s work near his own goal is even more exceptional; “He’s helped strengthen are defense, which was the key focus of our fall campaign,” said Weiss, “How we’re going to do defensively will decide how well we do overall.”

Center back Baden is one of six international players on the squad that Weiss, formerly of Burgdorf, Germany, has recruited. The international presence on this team has played a crucial role in Virginia Tech’s early season surge. Weiss feels that the imports raise the maturity level of his squad.

“It helps in games, when you’re asking young people to make decisions that are game-deciding, that you have a group of players out their that are not intimidated by anybody and not over-confident… That shows maturity. International kids help us in that respect more than anything”

Weiss cited the superiority of overseas competition as a large contributor to their exceptional maturity.

“They play several more games against higher level competition than our kids ever will. It plays a major role in the final ten minutes. We’ve been in situations before where a talented young freshman comes in and hasn’t played in the ACC. The ACC’s very difficult.”

They also show flare. Robert Edmans of Essex scored the most spectacular goal of the season as far as style points are concerned. In the second half of a home match against St. John’s, the 6-6 Brit dodged three St. John’s defenders before firing a shot into the top corner from 40 yards out.

Zehender, Stefan Hock, Nyarko, and Markus Aigner round out the rest of the Hokie footballers hailing from other continents.

Another reason this team possesses the composure to turn unpredictability into potency is the composure of American-born captain Nason. 

“He naturally leads by example,” said Weiss, “He scored a game winner, sets up passes, and does some incredible defensive work to establish our midfield. That’s a credit to his personality and his drive to do well in his final season.”

Nason, along with seniors Zehender, Reed and Scott Spangler, have shown thus far that they’re determined to leave with a special season behind them. Richmond and no. 5 ranked Virginia currently stand between them and the completion of perhaps the most successful month in the history of Virginia Tech soccer.

Though, even it doesn’t happen, the Hokies are still sitting in good position. “I think it’s good to get your wins early,” mused Nason, “It’s definitely going to help us down the line.”

With their balance and defensive maturity, Virginia Tech possesses the ingredients to prevail through the criminally difficult ACC schedule.

Even while playing in the most dominant conference in collegiate soccer, Tech still doesn’t schedule many cupcakes in non-conference play. They return home to face off against gritty rival Richmond (3-4) in an ACC Select telecast tonight at 7.