No. 19 Hokies Get Back On Track, Dominate Queens 4-0

Robbie Ackerly

Staff Writer

October 1, 2024

BLACKSBURG - No. 19 Virginia Tech clashed with Queens on Tuesday night at Thompson Field. 

The Hokies (6-2-1) dominated the Royals (3-5-1), going up 3-0 before 30 minutes had even gone by. 

It was a much needed victory for Virginia Tech, as the Hokies entered the match on a two-game skid, being blanked 2-0 in back-to-back conference matchups by SMU and No.1 Pitt. 

When asked about last Saturday’s loss to Pitt, head coach Mike Brizendine mentioned, “we felt like we left some on the table,” and vocalized that this Hokies team “responded well” against Queens. 

They responded well indeed. 

Tech was very clearly motivated, and you could see its eagerness right from the get go. 

Straight from the opening kickoff, the Hokies’ aggressiveness was on display, as they diced the Queens defense, giving them a very early opportunity to strike. Senior forward Declan Quill’s 2nd minute missile was saved by Queens goalkeeper Evan Morris. However, the nearly immediate shot on goal was a sign of things to come. 

Tech would have three more near goals within the first 11 minutes: one wide right, another over the crossbar and a free kick saved by a diving Morris. He and the Royals couldn’t keep the hold off the Hokies forever, though. 

In the 12th minute, sophomore forward Oliver Roche danced through the rain and around a Queens defender before sending the ball into the back of the net to begin the scoring for the Hokies. 

And just seven minutes later, co-captain defender Willie Cardona spoon fed Quill to double the Hokies advantage. 

Queens was not without chances to find the goal. In the 20th minute, forward Ciro Bourlot Jaeggi had a solo breakaway, but was tripped up by Tech keeper Cooper Wenzel enroute to a massive save. 

Still up 2-0, the Hokies continued to dominate, and before Queens could score their first goal, Virginia Tech midfielder Ian Marcano buried a low cross from Quill, giving the Hokies a 3-0 lead 29 minutes into the match. 

From there, Tech remained firmly in the driver’s seat. 

Another big step up by Wenzel in the 34th minute allowed the Hokies to cruise into the half up 3-0. Tech had an impressive 16 shots after just 45 minutes of play. 

Coming out of the half, Queens looked to finally get on the board, but were ultimately denied twice inside the six-yard box by an excellent effort from both Wenzel and the Hokies defense in the 47th minute. 

That was Queens’ final opportunity to try and mount a comeback, as Virginia Tech dominated for the remainder of the match.  

After multiple missed shots by Tech throughout the second half, midfielder Alex Perez scored the Hokies fourth goal of the game, coming off a cross from forward Marcos Esoe and ricochet off of junior CJ Coppola before finding Perez’s right foot in the 82nd minute.

Even more impressive than the clean sheet was the Hokies’ shot total; Tech finished the contest having fired off a staggering season-high 31 shots. 

It was a perfect get-right game for the Hokies. 

A massive jump in the top 25 won’t likely be on tap for Tech, but Coach Brizedine said that this fixture, “gets [the team] on the right foot as [they] face the next stretch.”  

That stretch begins Friday when Tech travels northeast to Charlottesville for the Commonwealth Clash against arch-rival Virginia (2-4-3) at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.