no. 25 virginia tech set to host umass
Patrick Campbell
April 17, 2021
Virginia Tech huddles up in its 2-1 loss to No. 5 Pitt on March 27. (Virginia Tech Athletics)
BLACKSBURG, Va. — No. 25 Virginia Tech (6-6-2, 5-5-2) will try to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume on Saturday as it faces off against UMass (7-1-2, 3-1-2) at 5 p.m. at Thompson Field.
Three Hokies earned All-ACC honors this week, the most for Tech since 2007. Daniel Pereira, former Hokie and No. 1 draft pick to Austin FC, was named ACC midfielder of the year and first team All-ACC. Pereira’s one goal in the fall season gave Tech its first win over Virginia since 2005.
Midfielder Kristo Strickler also claimed first team All-ACC honors. Strickler was drafted with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft after recording four goals and one assist during the 2020-21 season.
Forward Jacob Labovitz earned second team All-ACC honors. The Great Falls native leads the Hokies in goals scored with seven during the 2020-21 campaign which is tied for fourth in the ACC.
The Hokies have found their stride since returning to full-strength, racking up two conference wins in a row at North Carolina and Notre Dame. The two wins earned them a Top-25 ranking in the coaches poll. Tech pitched a dominant performance in its last conference game of the regular season, winning 2-0 after playing much of the second half a man up.
The Minutemen come to Blacksburg following a 2-1 victory over La Salle. They are currently ranked No. 15 in the NCAA Men's Soccer RPI.
UMass finished second in the North Division of the Atlantic 10.
Forward Alec Hughes earned rookie of the week following his league-leading seventh goal in the team’s win over La Salle.
The last meeting between these two resulted in a 4-2 home win for the Minutemen in 1999. The Hokies lead the all-time series 3-1-1.
Both teams will be looking to earn one of the twelve at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament.
Tech made school history last season as it received its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid and will try to extend that streak to five. UMass is eyeing their first tournament appearance since 2017.