BLACKSBURG, Va. – A second-half strike from 2016 second-team All-ACC performer Marcel Acuna proved to be the difference, as Virginia Tech captured their third consecutive win with a 2-0 victory over the Longwood men's soccer team Tuesday night at Thompson Field.
"With every passing game, the cogs are starting to free up and the football is getting better and better," said Longwood head coach
Jon Atkinson. "If there is such a thing as a feel good loss, this was it."
Coming off a win Friday night against then-top-ranked Notre Dame, the Hokies (4-4) marked the latest of perhaps the most difficult schedule in the program's Division I era, as the Lancers (0-7-1) have gone toe-to-toe with three ACC schools – Pitt, NC State, Virginia Tech -- as well as a pair of CAA powerhouses in top 10 foe UNCW and preseason favorite William & Mary.
Longwood was strong in the early portion of the game, matching Virginia Tech's ACC prowess in the opening minutes by controlling possession. That possession nearly gave the Lancers an early lead after
Connor Rea was able to steal a pass in the midfield area and ran a give-and-go play with
Max Poelker in the box before Rea's shot ultimately went wide.
"We had large parts of the game that we had Virginia Tech on the back foot and we were knocking on the door," Atkinson said. "Our lack of goals is haunting us a bit but that will change."
Lance Da Silva and the Longwood back line –
Denzel Speed,
Tom Devitt and
Marten Pajunurm -- was steady in limiting Virginia Tech's chances, sparked by a strong five save performance from Da Silva.
Acuna scored the game's opening goal in the 55th minute, as he was fed the ball in front of the box from Kristo Strickler, scoring to the low corner of the goal. Acuna, who is coming off a brace in Virginia Tech's win over top-ranked Notre Dame, matched the ACC lead with seven goals on the season.
Longwood controlled the play late in the game and threatened with the equalizer, as
Sherif Maalouf had possibly the best chance in the late stages with a shot from the right side of the box that marked one of four saves from Virginia Tech goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard in the contest.
"I'm incredibly proud of this team showing true character under pressure and the resilience to grind away every day when results could test a weaker person," Atkinson said.
Virginia Tech's added a late goal with the Lancers pushing for the equalizer, as Strickler added his second assist of the night on the first of the season from Justus Kauppinen in the 87th minute.
Coming off its first Big South Championship game appearance a season ago, the Lancers look to regain that Big South magic with the start of conference play Saturday, Sept. 30 against Winthrop. First touch is set for 6 p.m., at the Athletics Complex.
"We're climbing a mountain that I purposely chose to test us in every way to show that we belong at the elite level," Atkinson said. "While results are frustrating, I stand by my initial statement that I truly believe we're becoming 'that' team. Now that the season is reset for conference, I'm looking forward to seeing our boys battle in the Big South."
#GoWood
