Elite Defense Lifts Hokie Men’s Soccer Over ODU and Into NCAA Quarterfinals, 1-0

As a series of corner kicks milked down the clock on Sunday afternoon, Tech Soccer Stadium roared like never before.

That was because the 1,365 maroon-and-orange-clad crowd members stood through the rain, not in vain, but to witness their defense smother high-powered Old Dominion to only one shot in a 1-0 third round victory.

"We just made the game plan focus on the defensive aspect,” said Tech coach Oliver Weiss, “In a playoff game, you really have to focus on not giving the other team a chance. When you do that, you stymie their enthusiasm and belief, and when that trickles down then it lifts ours.”

Tech (13-3-5) implemented a 4-5-1 formation for most of the contest, and gave the Monarchs (14-7-3) very little space to operate offensively or challenge keeper Markus Aigner (1 save).

Though, perhaps the crucial reason this worked so effectively and sent Tech to the Elite Eight was the fact that they played with the lead. Thank Patrick Nyarko for this.

In the 23rd minute, the MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist nailed a shot off the crossbar that edged in for the match’s lone goal.

“That's a play we've practiced over and over again,” said Nyarko, “When I saw the ball
go over to the flag I knew what run to make and Georg [Zehender] found me with that ball. I was being heckled a little bit, but I just decided to go until the end of the play and, luckily, it went in."

Said ODU coach Alan Dawson, “There were very few clear-cut challenges and a special goal by a special player, and that's what wins close games."

The All-ACC first-teamer has performed incredible well in the NCAA tournament thus far, having tallied two assists in a 3-2 win over California in the second round.

The home team put on a clinical display of possession and defense with a second half lead, but failed to capitalize on several excellent scoring chances. Virginia Tech created three open looks at goal in the final fifteen minutes, but were unable to get past Monarch keeper Evan Newton (3 saves).

"It definitely got tense a little bit toward the end, but I think we were really good about being compact,” said captain Ben Nason, “In times like that, you just get behind the ball and try to counter a couple of times, which we did. We just didn't quite put the ball away.”

The Hokies would close out ODU in the end, and now prepare to face an even more potent team in Connecticut. The Huskies pummeled their way to five goals in their quarterfinal victory.

Still, intimidation is unlikely to factor because Tech seems to consistently raise their peak level.

“For me, I've been here five years…Every year, it seems like things have gotten better and better,” said Nason, an All-ACC second-team midfielder, “We have unbelievable players. It's just been an unbelievable ride, and I just hope it keeps going."

The ride goes roughly eleven hours up I-95 towards Storrs, CT to challenge the no. 3 seeded Huskies this Saturday at 1 p.m.