SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The No. 23 Fighting Irish and Virginia Tech played to a 1-1 draw on Friday evening at Alumni Stadium. The result moves Notre Dame’s record to 6-2-3 on the season and 2-1-1 in ACC play.
Notre Dame’s goal once again came by way of a set piece, as Wyatt Borso scored a header off a corner. The Irish now have 10 set piece goals on the season with six coming off corners.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish absorbed some early pressure on the counter from the visitors in the opening stages of the match but didn’t allow any clear cut chances to keep the contest scoreless.
Notre Dame scored the opener in the 21st minute to take a 1-0 lead. Borso had an effort from the edge of the area blocked out for a corner and Nolan Spicer’s service found Borso at the back post for a header that he powered into the back of the net.
Neither team was able to score for the remainder of the half and the Irish held the one-goal advantage at the halftime intermission.
The Irish nearly doubled their lead out of the gate in the second half, as Borso won the race to a ball over the top, took a touch to get around the keeper but his shot rolled just wide of the near post.
Notre Dame’s press nearly produced a goal in the 59th minute, as the Irish turned the Hokies over in the final third. Borso calmly laid a pass off at the edge of the area to an on rushing Baffour, who put his effort just wide of the post.
The Hokies began throwing numbers forward, trying to find the equalizer and in the 83rd minute the pressure paid off. Virginia Tech scored off a header from a corner to level the score at 1-1.
In the final minutes of action Blake Kelly made a huge diving stop to help the Irish come away with a 1-1 draw.
McFARLAND FAMILY MEN’S HEAD SOCCER COACH CHAD RILEY’S TAKE
On the match…
“Disappointed not to get the result but Virginia Tech is a very good team. We played really well, played tough and gritty and had some great moments of quality. I’m disappointed and think we were a little unfortunate not to get a goal to start the second half. I thought we came out exceptional in the second half.”
UP NEXT
Notre Dame’s seven-match homestand comes to a close against Green Bay at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 7 in a non-conference match at Alumni Stadium. Admission to the game is free and it will be streamed on ACCNX.
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