MEN'S SOCCER FALLS IN OPENING ROUND OF ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Virginia Tech men's soccer team saw it's 2008 season come to an end Tuesday afternoon. The ninth-seeded Hokies lost to the North Carolina State Wolfpack 3-1 in the opening round of the ACC Championships and finished with a record of 5-13-1.
The Wolfpack, who are a 9-8-1 overall, were first to light up the scoreboard. In the 33rd minute, junior Ronnie Bouemboue shot one past Tech freshman goalkeeper Thomas St. Germain. Assists were credited to junior Chrystel Bakong and redshirt freshman Kris Bryd. N.C. State would hold that lead through the intermission.
The Hokies knotted the game in the second half. Freshman midfielder Hunter Cheatham found the back of the net after receiving a pass from fellow freshman Luiz Yamashita. Cheatham's kick, in the 63rd minute, went out of the reach of Wolpack goalkeeper Christopher Widman.
It didn't take long for N.C. State to regain the advantage. Approximately five minutes after Cheatham's goal, Bouemboue one-upped him. His second goal of the game was also the second goal for the 'Pack and was also the deciding score in the contest.
The Hokies couldn't generate enough offense to comeback, however. In fact, State added an insurance goal. That was courtesy of junior Federico Nachmann, who received assists from Alan Sanchez as well as Bouemboue.
The Hokies were defeated despite posting more shots than the Wolfpack -- 12 compared to State's nine -- and committing less offsides penalties.
As for the goalkeepers, Widman finished with three saves on the afternoon, while St. Germain had one.
With their victory, the eighth-seeded Wolfpack will face off with top seed Wake Forest in the next round.
BEAMER DISCUSSES MIAMI, 'WILD TURKEY'
Frank Beamer arrived over a half-hour late to his Tuesday 1 p.m. press conference, attributing it to accidentally taking what is normally his Thursday walk with John Ballein, associate athletics director for football operations.
His team prepares for its second consecutive Thursday night ACC battle on tap, this time against a team Beamer considers the Miami of old. The 'Canes ride a four-game winning streak and 12 days of vital rest. Beamer noted his young squad's difficult schedule, pointing out that there were instances earlier in the season where his opponents came off of more rest.
Tyrod Taylor remains questionable and his status for the game will depend on this week's practices. If Taylor does return it will be to an offense that's recently incorporated a new gimmick -- the "wild turkey" offense. This package can and has included Greg Boone at quarterback and Sean Glennon split out at wide receiver.
Beamer wouldn't say, however, whether Boone-to-Glennon had become a reality in practice. Either way, Beamer emphasized that this newly incorporated formation allows Tech to attack different parts of the field and that the formation will begin with simple plays and branch out as opposing defenses allow. Boone did not throw out of the "wild turkey" in its debut against Maryland. Beamer jumped on board with the package after offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring introduced him to it.
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