CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia Tech lost to Virginia 2-1 on Friday night at Klockner Stadium.
No. 19 Tech had no shortage of chances, outscoring the hosts 25-8. However, the Cavaliers built a 2-0 lead by the 55th minute and provided enough cover to outrun the Hokies.
Yonis Kyre headed in a free kick from Alex Perez to bring the lead to one point in the 80th minute. As they had for much of the game, the Hokies put pressure on the Cavaliers late, but were unable to score the tying shot.
Virginia Tech suffered an early blow when steady presence Trey Gardiner went down with an injury in the 20th minute, but Keele came on as a substitute and fought through the final 70 minutes to get himself on the scoresheet. Ta.
It was a free kick in the 42nd minute that gave Virginia the lead when Daniel Mangalov’s shot hit the Hokies’ wall. The shot was only the second shot Virginia put on frame all night, and one of four total.
Despite being held goalless, Tech entered the break with 13 shots on target, including five on target.
In the second half, the Hokies’ momentum briefly disappeared when Virginia added another point less than 10 minutes into the half.
Still, Virginia Tech continued to press forward, moving the ball up the side of the field with help from fullbacks Noe Wimana and Willy Cardona.
Tech finally had a breakthrough in the 80th minute. Perez took a free kick that hit Kire in the head as he darted toward the back post, putting Virginia under pressure to end the game.
The host team was able to do that, and Virginia Tech suffered its third conference loss of the season.
Tech will take a week off before welcoming North Carolina State to Thompson Field for Senior Night on Friday, Oct. 11, from 6 p.m.
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The Cavaliers defeated the Hokies, giving Virginia one point in the Commonwealth Clash presented by Smithfield. The Commonwealth Clash score is currently 1.0.-0.0 in favor of Virginia. For more information, visit https://hokiesports.com/commonwealth-clash.
