Virginia Tech Eyes 2-0 Start Against Duke

Patrick Campbell

March 6, 2021

BLACKSBURG, VA — Virginia Tech eyes a 2-0 start facing the Duke Blue Devils in their home opener Saturday at 1 p.m. The Hokies are coming off a 2-0 victory over No. 5 Coastal Carolina.

Tech was propelled past the Chanticleers by a goal from forward Jacob Labovitz and defender Sivert Haugli. The No. 13 Hokies (4-2-2, 3-1-2) are now one of four ACC teams ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll alongside No. 1 Clemson, No. 4 Pitt, and No. 6 Wake Forest.

The Blue Devils (2-7-2, 2-4) come into Blacksburg following a scoreless draw against No. 18 UNC-Wilmington. Duke is currently on a scoreless drought in their first three games of the spring season.

Most of the Blue Devils’ offense is driven through midfielder Jack Doran and fellow midfielder Nick Pariona. The two have combined for 11 out of Duke’s 26 points through its 11 games since the start of the fall.

Virginia Tech won the last meeting between these two teams, securing a 2-1 victory on November 1, 2019 in Durham. Tech looks to win back-to-back matches against Duke for the first time in program history.

If the Hokies are victorious, it would be their second 2-0 start in three seasons, the second since 2019.