Junior midfielder Robert Alberti kicks the penalty after the yellow card.
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The Virginia Tech men’s soccer team will look to do two things in Saturday’s matchup against North Carolina.
First, even its record, and second, prove the team can stay competitive in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as it begins conference play.
Tech currently has a 1-2-0 record after last weekend’s Hokie Invitational at Thompson Field. The team’s win, a 2-1 victory, came against the Cincinatti Bearcats on Sunday when Robert Alberti converted a penalty kick in the 82nd minute. They had previously lost to Wisconsin and Howard.
Now, after three games for the players to get acclimated to one another, their focus turns to conference play. It will not be an easy task, as North Carolina was the ACC’s lone representative in the final four of the NCAA tournament last year.
Historically, Tech has not played North Carolina well. Since 1973, when the series between the two teams started, Tech was 2-8-0.
The Hokies’ last victory against the Tar Heels came in 2007 in Blacksburg, when North Carolina was ranked No. 5 in the nation. This was two seasons before Mike Brizendine took over as the Hokies head coach. Since then, the Heels have won both matchups between the two teams.
Brizendine knows there is a tall task in store for his team but is grateful the team’s first taste of conference play will be at home.
“One thing we’re fortunate (for) is we’re bringing a bunch of (ACC) teams (to Blacksburg),” Brizendine said. “I’d much rather play them at home than away. We still have some tough road games.”
Brizendine also said that with the team’s first matchup being against an opponent like UNC, the roster, which is made up mostly of freshmen and sophomores, will get a taste of how competitive and talented the ACC teams are this season, and for years to come.
The Heels are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation. However, there are some similarities between the two teams. North Carolina also boasts a roster with a large number of freshmen, with a mix of 11 redshirt and true freshmen.
A version of this article appeared in the Sep 8 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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