Virginia Tech News: Men’s soccer pulls of stunning upset

It was a busy weekend for the Virginia Tech athletic programs. The football team suffered a 36-15 loss at Rutgers, but the men’s soccer team pulled off a major upset and the volleyball team suffered their first setback of the season at home. Let’s fire up the latest Virginia Tech Hokies news with all of that and more.

Virginia Tech men’s soccer stuns Louisville

The Hokies opened ACC play last weekend with a 1-1 tie against North Carolina. Friday night, then traveled to Kentucky to play fifth-ranked Louisville and Tech pulled off a major upset with a 2-1 win on a goal from Oliver Roche in the 88th minute to break a 1-1 tie.

The Cardinals took an early lead, but the Hokies tied the match right before halftime in the 43rd minute on an Andy Sullins goal. The game stayed tied until Roche netted the game-winner for Tech’s first win of the season. The Hokies, who will host Boston College on Sept. 22, improved to 1-2-3 overall and 1-0-1 in the ACC.

Women’s soccer falls at North Carolina

Like the men, the women played a nationally ranked team in second-ranked North Carolina Friday, but unlike the men, the women came up on the short end of a 1-0 score.

UNC won the game on a 67th-minute goal, but Virginia Tech outshot the hosts, 8-4. Tech keeper Alia Skinner made six saves in the loss. The Hokies, who fell to 3-3-3 overall, travel to Boston College on Sept. 21.

Volleyball suffers first setback of 2023

The volleyball team’s undefeated start to the season was one of the top athletic stories early in the season in Blacksburg, but their streak came to an end and their perfect start to the season. After beating Queens Friday, 3-1, the Hokies dropped a five-set match to East Carolina to fall to 10-1 on the season.

Against the Pirates, Elayna Duprey had 19 kills and 15 digs, while Ava Francis also had 15 kills. Iliana Rodriguez had 24 digs for the Hokies, who open up ACC play next weekend against Florida State and Miami.