BLACKSBURG, Va. - Junior
Brando Bedolla converted a penalty kick to draw Longwood even at one early in the second half, but Virginia Tech scored twice in the final 30 minutes to pull out a 3-1 win at Thompson Field on Tuesday night.
Trailing 1-0 at the half, Bedolla drew a penalty kick less than four minutes into the second frame. The Lancer striker was cut down from behind by a Hokie defender as he pulled his leg back to take a shot. He converted for his fifth goal of the season to tie the match at one.
Longwood (6-5) nearly took the lead just over a minute later. Sophomore
Benjamin Ferrero sent a looping ball toward the back side of the six-yard box, but VT goalkeeper Diego Dauzier was able to block
Levon Saribekyan's volley chance.
Virginia Tech, who knocked off Virginia in Charlottesville last week and sit in second place in the ACC, retook the lead in the 59th minute. Off an Alex Perez free kick, Amir Airely headed home the Hokies' second goal of the night inside the right post.
The Hokies (7-3-1) added insurance in the 83rd minute on a Chase Vazquez header as Ariely sent in the cross from the left wing.
VT opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Alvaro Ruiz-Mateos Tito Peralta served in a ball from the right flank to Dagur Traustason near the penalty spot, and the Hokie forward headed it into the right side of the goal to put the home team on top.
Graduate student goalkeeper
Nicolas Pucci made four of his six saves in the opening 45 minutes. He made a reflex save off an Ariely header from a corner kick in the 20th minute, before blocking a Jaden Chan Tack rocket from the left side over the goal a minute later to keep the deficit at 1-0.
Scoring Summary
10' | Virginia Tech - Dagur Traustason (Alvaro Ruiz-Mateos Tito Peralta)
49' | Longwood –
Brando Bedolla (penalty kick)
59' | Virginia Tech – Amir Ariely (Alex Perez)
83' | Virginia Tech – Chase Vazquez (Ariely)
Up Next
The Lancers return home for Big South play on Saturday, Oct. 10, welcoming Gardner-Webb to Farmville. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
