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Men's Soccer

Tech eyes bounce-back performance against No. 23 UCLA

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Virginia Tech men's soccer is approaching the second leg of its west coast trip, as the Hokies take on No. 23 UCLA on Sunday evening. Tech will look to bounce back following a 1-0 defeat at Grand Canyon on Thursday, while the Bruins opened their season with a 1-0 victory over UC-Irvine. 

 

MATCH DETAILS
DateTimeOpponentNetworkLive Stats
August 289 p.m. (EST)No. 23 UCLAPac-12 NetworksHERE

 
THE SERIES

  • Virginia Tech and UCLA will meet for the first time on Sunday evening. 
  • The Hokies have played in the state of California three times previously – all in the 2019 season. That year, Tech defeated Loyola Marymount and UC Santa Barbara before falling in the NCAA Tournament to Stanford.

 
LAST TIME OUT

  • The Hokies opened their season in a tough climate on Thursday night, as they faced Grand Canyon in Phoenix, Ariz. After heading into the break scoreless, the Lopes found a winner in the 61st minute. 
  • As the game came to a close, Virginia Tech was able to throw bodies forward and have a handful of opportunities in the final few minutes. Grand Canyon's back line was able to produce some desperation blocks to keep the visitors scoreless.
  • Four Hokies made their competitive debuts in the match: Willie Cardona, Grant Howard, Ricki Vidal and Misei Yoshizawa. 

 
A WIN WOULD…

  • Be head coach Mike Brizendine's 100th win as head coach of Virginia Tech. 
  • Be Tech's first win against a ranked opponent in a true road game since April 2, 2021, when the Hokies downed No. 15 North Carolina, 2-1.

 
SCOUTING THE BRUINS

  • UCLA earned a 1-0 defeat on Thursday against UC Irvine. Redshirt senior Kevin Diaz came off the bench and provided the game-winner with a header in the 51st minute. 
  • The Bruins, the second of nine 2021 NCAA Tournament teams that the Hokies will face this season, were projected to finish third in the Pac-12 in the league's preseason poll.