Connect with us

College Soccer

NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament Second Round: WVU escapes Virginia Tech in PK’s, Hofstra overwhelms Penn St

NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament – Second Round

From NCAA Tournament, WVU Men’s Soccer and Penn State/Hofstra Men’s Soccer reports 

2021 NCAA DI Men’s Soccer Championship interactive bracket

DIGITAL NCAA TOURNAMENT PROGRAM

Sunday’s second-round action on the pitch in the DI men’s soccer tournament has had some wild moments and some shocking results.

WVU Advances In PK Shootout to defeat VIrginia Tech 

West Virginia needed penalty kicks, but advanced by Virginia Tech in a nailbiter.

 No. 11-seeded West Virginia University men’s soccer team earned a 1-1 draw against Virginia Tech and advanced on penalty kicks in the NCAA Tournament Second Round on Sunday afternoon at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

The Mountaineers move on to the third round for the first time since 2007, and just the third time in program history, following a 4-3 advantage in the penalty shootout. Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky made a pair of PK saves, before fifth-year senior midfielder Pau Jimenez Albelda scored the deciding goal to help WVU advance.

“I think the best team won,” WVU coach Dan Stratford said. “In the first half, we were excellent, especially to start the game. When we scored as early as we did, I thought we settled in. It would’ve been really nice to capitalize on that momentum and score the second because we knew they had some threats.

“Then, it was just ‘Is it going to come?,’ which is perhaps a synopsis of our season with creating good opportunities but not feeling like we can quite get that final pass or shot to go our way. So, we had to do it the hard way, but (we) stepped up in those moments to make sure the best team won.”

Hofstra Erupts in Second Half to Blow Past Penn State 

The Hofstra men’s soccer team erupted for three first half goals and poured on five more in the second half to rout the 12th-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions, 8-2, Sunday night at Jeffrey Field in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship. Hofstra advances to the third round for the first time in program history and will face No. 5 seed Pittsburgh next weekend.

A pair of players for the Pride had two goals and an assist as Hendrik Hebbeker and Roc Carles led the offensive onslaught for Hofstra, while Ryan Carmichael posted a goal and two assists.

The eight goals are one off the NCAA Division I Championship record of nine goals which has been accomplished four times, most recently by Appalachian State in 1978 against George Washington. The goals total is the highest by a Colonial Athletic Association team in NCAA Tournament history and is tied for the fifth-most by any team in the 63-year history of the NCAA Championship

Hofstra improves to 18-1-2 on the season with those 18 wins marking a school record. The Pride is also on a 17-game unbeaten streak (15-0-2). Penn State sees its season end with a record of 13-7-1.

NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament – Second Round Scoreboard 

Here’s a score update for all the matches thus far Sunday:

 

 

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

Subscribe to PGH Soccer Now

Enter your email address to subscribe to PGH Soccer Now and receive notifications of new posts by email.

More in College Soccer