Soccer nets first tourney win

By Torrey Smith The Collegiate Times

November 15, 2007

Blacksburg, VA (CSTV U-WIRE) -- The No. 8 Virginia Tech men's soccer team tacked on yet another accolade to their memorable season Wednesday afternoon in Cary, N.C.After earning the program's highest ever ranking (No. 4) and shattering the school's record unbeaten streak (15 games) earlier this season, the Hokies earned their first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament win, defeating No. 19 Maryland 3-0 in the quarterfinals.

"It's a great thing any time you win a game in the ACC Tournament with a shutout against a ranked opponent," said Virginia Tech head coach Oliver Weiss. "I think if you look at our entire season, it may rank up there with one of our best performances."

Coming off their first loss since August 31 - a 3-1 loss to Boston College on Friday - the Hokies responded in impressive fashion and snapped the Terrapins' own 10-game unbeaten streak.

Senior midfielder Ben Nason led the charge for the Hokies offensively and opened the scoring 21:15 into the game.

Following a Maryland foul just outside the goal box, sophomore midfielder Charlie Campbell took a free kick for the Hokies and played the ball to Nason 25 yards out. Nason, who was recently named a second team all-conference midfielder, fired his shot past Maryland goalkeeper Will Swaim to give the Hokies the early advantage.

"Ben had a huge hand in (the win,)" Weiss said. "If he plays well for us, we have a great chance of winning."

The one-goal Tech advantage held throughout the first half, though barely. Maryland nearly tied the game in the 42nd minute on a free kick of their own, but Graham Zusi's shot hit the post and bounced out of harm's way.

First team all-conference forward Patrick Nyarko landed on the scoresheet next for the Hokies, tallying in the 65th minute. Midfielder Georg Zehender sent a long cross to a streaking Nyarko, who managed to sneak behind the Maryland defense and bury his fifth goal of the season.

Nason finished the scoring for Tech at 82:57 with his second goal of the game and his sixth of the season. Nyarko controlled the ball in the Maryland corner, dribbled around defenders and sent a cross to Nason. The goal iced the game for the Hokies, giving them a three-goal advantage with only 7:03 remaining in regulation.

"It feels great," Nason said. "This win was really big. Everyone contributed and converted on their chances. Overall, it was a really good win."

Junior Markus Aigner turned away a pair of Maryland shots to earn his third shutout of the season and improve his record to 6-1-5.

"It was important for us to win a game for these seniors who had been with us for four or four-and-a-half years," Weiss said. "Ben (Nason) is one of them. He's been through these ACC and even Big East Tournaments, and this is our first conference postseason victory. It was a tremendous feat, and it's been a long time coming."

The Hokies hope more tournament wins will follow, and they get their chance Friday.

With their win and a Boston College victory over Virginia on Wednesday afternoon, the fourth-seeded Hokies will now face the top-seeded Golden Eagles in the first semifinal match of the tournament. The game is scheduled for Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the SAS Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C.