After snapping a five-game losing streak Sept. 24, the AU men’s soccer team did one better Tuesday by defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies 1-0. It was the team’s first victory over an Atlantic Coast Conference team since 2009.
“Beating an ACC team [is] great to get the momentum and confidence up,” AU goalkeeper Billy Knusten said. “Especially [winning] back-to-back games; first time in a long time we’ve done that.”
Both teams had their share of chances in the early stages of the first half. In the fifth minute, Virginia Tech’s (3-6, 1-2) Robert Alberti beat several defenders and whipped a cross into the 18-yard box forcing Knutsen to make a jumping tip-save.
The Eagles (3-6-1, 1-0) came right back 20 minutes later with a chance of their own. Colin Seigfreid placed one of AU’s four first half corners near-post to Cristobal Soto, whose header was blocked by Alberti.
In the 30th minute, the Eagles started another counter attack. Seigfreid fed a switching ball to Alassane Kane, who fired a shot from 20 yards out that deflected off a Hokie defender and slid past goalkeeper Kyle Renfro for a 1-0 AU advantage it took into the half.
“Seigfreid played a diagonal ball across, the defender intercepted it and headed it right to my feet and I just took a touch and hit it,” Kane said. “It deflected and went in; fortunate goal.”
The Hokies poured on the pressure to try and equalize in the second half as they outshot the Eagles 11-2 in the final 45 minutes.
With just over 30 minutes remaining, Virginia Tech midfielder Jed Prater’s 30-yard free kick found the head of teammate Will Witherspoon, but his attempt rocked off the left post.
Ten minutes later, Witherspoon had another opportunity when he received a through ball from midfield, but Knutsen sprinted out of his goal to make a sliding save and keep the shutout as the Eagles managed to win 1-0.
“All wins feel good, but when you beat one of the power conferences, it’s definitely a good win for the program,” Head Coach Todd West said.
Along with his three saves in the game, Knutsen recorded his second career shutout in only his third collegiate match.
“I thought [Knutsen] was very good; every time we put him in he’s been solid,” West said. “The only thing Billy’s ever done wrong is he’s playing behind Matt Makowski. [Knutsen’s] got composure about him. It looks like he’s played 50 games instead of four or five, so he was fantastic today.”
AU will take its two-game winning streak to Lewisburg, Pa. Oct. 1 to face Bucknell University, the defending Patriot League Tournament champions. The Eagles have not won consecutive games since October 2009, so for West, a team that entered last weekend 1-6-1 is looking a lot better.
“We hope [the momentum] carries through,” West said. “I think there’s a little bit of belief and guys are buying [into] it and we’re getting some success.”
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