Hokie ClubSOUTH BEND, Ind. – Freshman Ricardo John scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season, but it was not enough as the Hokies came up short 3-1 against No. 1 Notre Dame on Saturday evening.
“We gave up some unfortunate goals tonight and it ended up costing the match. Overall, I was pleased with the work rate of the guys. I was proud of the way we responded after going down 2-0 to bring the score back to 2-1,” explained head coach Mike Brizendine. “We had some quality chances to level the game but we were unable to capitalize.”
Virginia Tech (7-6-1, 2-4-1 ACC) was outshot by the Fighting Irish (9-4-2, 5-1-1 ACC) 16-6. Notre Dame also led in corner kicks 6-4.
After some back and forth play in the opening minutes of the match, Notre Dame was awarded a penalty kick in the 21st minute after a handball in the box. The Fighting Irish’s Patrick Hodan stepped up to take the kick but his shot was just wide and the score remained 0-0.
Notre Dame started off the scoring just a minute later with a goal in the 22nd minute. The Fighting Irish’s Patrick Hodan took a free kick from just outside the box that was tipped away by freshman goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard. The Irish’s Matt Habrowski picked up the rebound and tucked it away to give Notre Dame the 1-0 lead.
The Fighting Irish had a pair of shots in the 36th and 41st minute that were both turned away by Lundgaard to keep the score 1-0 in favor of Notre Dame.
That’s the way the half would end. At the break Notre Dame, would hold an 8-1 advantage in shots and a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks. Lundgaard made three saves in the opening stanza of play.
The second half would see the Hokies ramp up the pressure on the offensive side of the ball. Tech was able to rattle off five shots in the second half while Notre Dame took eight.
The Fighting Irish found the goal again in the 66th minute when Notre Dame’s Connor Klekota found Patrick Hodan in the box who slipped it past Lundgaard to make it 2-0.
Tech responded less than two minutes later in the 68th minute, however, when Ricardo John found himself in the box with just the keeper to beat. John hit the ball from the right side of the box past Notre Dame’s Patrick Wall to make the score 2-1.
With the Hokies pushing numbers forward to find the equalizer, Notre Dame was able to grab a goal from Jon Gallagher to make the score 3-1 in the 88th minute. The game would end that way.
In all, Lundgaard made a total of five saves in the match and John moved into a tie for first in points for the Hokies with 11.
Tech is back in action on Tuesday when the Hokies host Davidson at Thompson Field at 7 p.m.