When the Virginia Tech men's soccer team was looking for a game to begin the 2025 season, things were getting dicey. In the spring, head coach Mike Brizendine ended up picking up a game against third-ranked Ohio State to begin a home-and-home series.
Last season, the Buckeyes spent a majority of the season as the top-ranked team in the country, and preseason rankings are what they are, preseason rankings, but there is no doubt that Brizendine challenged his team right out of the game at Thompson Field on Thursday night in the Hokies' season-opener.
The college soccer season is a long one, and sometimes you need some luck to be successful, and that is exactly what Virginia Tech got against the Buckeyes.
Virginia Tech men's soccer opens 2025 season with major upset of third-ranked Ohio State
Ohio State is the top team in the Big Ten and will be there in the end when the conference tournament begins, but Virginia Tech sent a major statement with a 1-0 victory over the Buckeyes in Blacksburg to begin the season. Ohio State went 16-2-4 last season and advanced to the College Cup before being bounced in the semifinal by Marshall, 1-0.
In a back-and-forth match on the pitch, the Hokies got a goal from freshman Colin Beutel in the first half that was the difference. Beutel settled a pass inside the Ohio State box, made a move, and his shot deflected off a Buckeye defender and just under the crossbar for the game's lone goal in the 41st minute.
The goal from Beutel to put the Hokies up⚽️ pic.twitter.com/AZ8BK4miIM
— Virginia Tech Men’s Soccer (@HokiesMSoccer) August 22, 2025
Keeper Sam Joseph made three saves for the Hokies to record the clean sheet. Virginia Tech returns to the pitch on Sunday afternoon in Blacksburg with another non-conference match against Canisius at 3 o'clock at Thompson Field.