Oct. 16, 2015
BLACKSBURG, Va. – A frenetic final 65 minutes for the University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team created a flurry of offensive chances against host Virginia Tech on Friday night. The Irish were unable to cash in on the late surge, however, as No. 7/4 Notre Dame and Virginia Tech finished in a 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) draw at Thompson Field.
Notre Dame (8-2-4, 3-1-2 ACC) claimed its seventh straight overall result in the contest, reaching overtime for the fourth consecutive match. It is just the third time in program history that four straight Irish games have gone to extra time (the first occurred in 1987), and the first since the 1998 Notre Dame team played five consecutive overtime games.
Blake Townes had the best scoring chance by either team during the 95th minute. A great centering pass from the left flank by Jon Gallagher narrowly missed a sliding Townes out front with a clear look on frame, and his re-directed shot rolled wide of the far post to stall the Irish offensive.
Virginia Tech countered with a chance of its own in the 104th minute. Merlin Baus clocked the ensuing free kick high over the crossbar and out of play.
The Irish made one final surge inside of the last minute of play. Tri-captain Patrick Hodan sent a corner kick from the right flag out in front to Evan Panken, whose long try from 20 yards was blocked away by the Virginia Tech back line to clinch the draw for both sides.
Shots finished at an even 10 a side, although Notre Dame held an 8-6 edge in the second half and overtime periods over Virginia Tech (5-5-3, 0-3-3 ACC). The Irish maintained a 9-5 cushion in corner kicks, while the Hokies logged 16 fouls and three yellow cards to the nine fouls and two bookings of Notre Dame.
Virginia Tech managed the first shot on goal in the contest in the fifth minute, as Dylan Huber sent a header toward the Notre Dame frame. Irish goalkeeper Chris Hubbard stood tall to make the save. Huber was then assessed a yellow card for post play contact with Hubbard in the box.
Notre Dame pushed possession into the Hokies third in the eighth minute, where a Panken corner kick was unable to find its way cleanly to an Irish attacker.
A second Virginia Tech yellow card, issued to Som Essome, gave Notre Dame a straightaway opportunity at the top of the 18-yard box. Hodan sent a left-footed try screaming toward the left post and narrowly out of play.
Drew Ott stole an errant Irish pass in the 35th minute to give Virginia Tech its best scoring chance of the match. Ott gathered the ball on the left of the box and dribbled around Hubbard near the goal line at the left post, but his shot went wide of the iron on the far side.
Virginia Tech dumped the ball over the top for the first scoring opportunity of the second half in the 47th minute. Huber weaved through the right of the Notre Dame defense and uncorked a tempting blast that sailed wide to the right of the Irish net.
A solid dribble down the right flank by Mark Gormley in the 55th minute opened space in the center of the Virginia Tech defense for the Notre Dame attack. Gormley centered a nice pass out in front to Hodan, who ripped a shot high and to the left from 16 yards out.
Following a Hokie corner kick in the 60th minute, Huber looked to get free and connected with a left-footed shot in the box. The Notre Dame back line blocked the attempt out of harm’s way to thwart the hosts.
After a Virginia Tech foul to the right of the 18-yard box impeded Hodan in the 77th minute, Gallagher chipped a rolling service from straightaway on frame from 15 yards just wide of the left post.
An artful steal from Jeffrey Farina at midfield set Gallagher up for a long run in the 79th minute. A tough-angled shot down the left wing was turned aside by Virginia Tech goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard.
Notre Dame made one last regulation salvo in the 90th minute. A Farina shot was blocked out over the end line, but Virginia Tech managed to clear the ensuing Irish corner kick out of the box to force overtime.
Notre Dame plays its final nonconference match of the 2015 regular season on Tuesday against Northwestern. The 7 p.m. (CT) match will take place at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, the home of the Chicago Fire of the MLS.
Oct. 16, 2015
No. 7/4 Notre Dame 0, Virginia Tech 0
(2OT)
Thompson Field (Blacksburg, Va.)
No. 7/4 Notre Dame 0 0 0 0 — 0
Virginia Tech 0 0 0 0 — 0
Shots: VT 10 (4-5-0-1), ND 10 (2-5-2-1)
Shots on goal: VT 2 (1-1-0-0), ND 2 (1-1-0-0)
Saves: VT 2 (Ben Lundgaard 2 in 110:00), ND 2 (Chris Hubbard 2 in 110:00)
Corner Kicks: VT 5 (0-4-1-0), ND 9 (2-3-1-3)
Fouls: VT 16, ND 9
Offsides: VT 0, ND 1
Yellow Cards: Dylan Huber (VT) 4:30; Som Essome (VT) 24:56; Merlin Baus (VT) 28:11; Jon Gallagher (ND) 83:13; Brandon Aubrey (ND) 103:29
Attendance: 1,084
–ND–
— Tony Jones, Athletics Communications Assistant