Ohio State then-sophomore Marcus McCrary (19) dribbles the ball through a group of Michigan players during a soccer game at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on Nov. 4, 2015. Credit: Lantern File Photo
The Ohio State men’s soccer team lost 1-0 in double overtime to Virginia Tech in their first game of the 2016 season.
Hokies forward Marcelo Acuna scored the game winner in the 106th minute on a header from eight yards out on a far cross from forward Alessandro Mion.
Prior to the start of the game, the Buckeyes held a moment of silence in remembrance of teammate Fikayo Idowu, who tragically passed away this June. The team will wear patches that read “FI14” to honor him.
Defense reigned supreme in the match, as neither team was able to find the back of the net through two regulation periods and the first overtime period.
“I was pleased with us defensively,” coach John Bluem said. “They came at us with a lot of different things and we fought it off. There were definitely some positives defensively.”
Both teams looked sluggish out of the gate, only managing a combined five shots in the first period.
The first shot of the game for either team came in the 13th minute after Ohio State sophomore midfielder Abdi Mohamed created space up the middle with a few dribble moves. He then passed it to senior forward Christian Soldat, who fired a shot at net that went right to Hokie goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard. It was the only shot on goal of the half for either team.
The Hokies came out firing in the second period, outshooting Ohio State 5-0 early on.
Virginia Tech had a good scoring opportunity to start out the period but failed to score on an open net as the shot from forward Som Essome in the 49th minute went wide left.
After a yellow card by Hokie midfielder James Kasak in the 83rd minute, Ohio State was given a free kick that senior defender Austin Bergstrom shot high over the net.
Both teams had more opportunities in the two overtime periods, but it was Virginia Tech that came out on top.
“We get the feeling of playing and understand that this is what a loss feels like,” Bergstrom said. “All the guys have this taste in their mouth and they are never going to want it again.”
Ohio State looks to regroup against UC Santa Barbara this Sunday Aug. 28 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.
“It’s a little bit bitter to lose late like that but the only thing we can do is talk to the guys and get ready for Sunday,” Bluem said. “There is no reason to panic. It was a tough game. Breaks did not go our way and they got one and we didn’t.”
