BLACKSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary men's soccer team fell on the road at No. 15-ranked Virginia Tech, 3-0, on Tuesday night at Thompson Field. The Hokies (8-4-2) scored twice over a five-minute span in the first half and added two markers four minutes apart late in the contest to defeat the Tribe (3-8-2) for the first time since 2006. It marked W&M's third setback to a nationally-ranked ACC foe this season.  
 
Senior Ryder Bell nearly got W&M on the board in the 12th minute. From the left side of the 18, the Tribe forward sent a knuckler toward the far post, but Virginia Tech goalkeeper Mathijs Swaneveld made the kick save to push it wide.  
 
Tech struck first in the 28th minute on its fourth corner kick of the contest. Senior Rory Slevin served the in-swinger into the six-yard box. It deflected off a Tribe defender and into the center of the goal to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
 
The Hokies doubled their lead five minutes later, scoring on the counter. Junior striker James Kasak made a run up the left flank and used a nice move to gain space. Sophomore Kristo Strickler got a boot to Kask's cross and flicked it into the back of the net from six yards out.
 
The Green and Gold just missed scoring twice in the final 10 minutes of the first half. In the 37th minute, senior Marcel Berry made a nice run up the left side into the box and beat a defender to the six, but Swaneveld again made the kick save. Four minutes later, senior Antonio Bustamante ripped a shot from just outside the 18 that looked destined for the upper right corner, and Swaneveld's diving save pushed the chance wide.
 
After Onyeador stopped a Strickler shot from in close in the 56th minute, the Tribe nearly pulled one back two minutes later. Bustamante played the ball to Bell along the top of the 18-yard box, but his shot deflected off a Hokie defender and off the left post.
 
Virginia Tech juniors Nico Quashie and Brendan Moyers got behind the Tribe defense in the 78th and 82nd minutes, respectively, to provide the final margin.
 
W&M Starters - #1 Onyeador (GK), #4 Forst, #5 Golan, #7 Smith, #8 Fuquene, #10 A. Bustamante, #11 Bell, #12 Berry, #19 Hosseinain, #21 Trott, #23 Eberle
 
VT Starters – #1 Swaneveld, #2 Mejia, #3 Haugli, #5 Ingason, #7 Quashie, #8 Kasak, #9 Sanz, #13 Clarke-Smith, #15 Strickler, #16 Slevin, #31 Bluemler
 
Scoring
28' | Own Goal (Virginia Tech)
33' | Kristo Strickler (Virginia Tech) (assisted: James Kasak)
78' | Nico Quashie (Virginia Tech) (assisted: Sivert Haugli and Mathijs Swaneveld)
82' | Brendan Moyers (Virginia Tech) (assisted: Strickler)
 
Inside the Numbers
- Virginia Tech outshot the Tribe, 15-7, including a 10-3 cushion in attempts on frame.
- The Hokies attempted six corner kicks compared to two for the Tribe.
- Senior Ryder Bell topped W&M with three shots on the night.
- Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Sam Onyeador made a career-high six saves.  
 
Up Next
The Tribe returns to CAA action when it hosts Drexel on Saturday, Oct. 20. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field. Fans can watch the match for FREE in HD on Tribe Athletics TV.