November 30, 2004

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech men's soccer team wrapped up its roller-coaster of a season on Nov. 10 with a 1-0 overtime loss to Wake Forest University in the ACC Tournament. The Hokies finished the season, their first-ever season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with a 2-5 record in the league and a 9-10-1 record overall, with one of the more grueling schedules in the nation.

Tech faced nine schools that made the NCAA Championships, winning three times. The wins came against then-No. 23 Coastal Carolina, then-No. 1 Duke, and then-No. 2 Virginia.

Against Coastal Carolina in the Clemson Nike Classic, freshman Kevin Edwards netted his second career goal, while sophomore Ben Nason added an insurance goal in the 2-0 victory. Traveling to Durham, N.C. to face Duke the following week, the Hokies continued their shutout streak, taking a 1-0 game over the No. 1 team in the nation in front of 2.434 fans. Senior Bailey Allman, who led the team with seven goals this season, scored the only goal of the match off a pass from junior Magnus Einarsson for the win.

In the final home game, the Hokies faced No. 2 Virginia for the first time as conference foes. Tech went on the attack, striking at the 2:16 mark on Greg Roach's first goal of the season. Roach was assisted by Nason on the play.

UVa battled back and tied the game in the 25^th minute. It would remain that way until senior co-captain Ken Jonmaire found a streaking Nason eight minutes into the second half for the game-winner. Tech's defense stymied the high-scoring Cavaliers, winning its first-ever game over UVa in the 23^rd attempt. The two goals scored by the Hokies tied the most ever while competing against the Cavaliers. Tech had only scored two goals in a game one other time in the history of the series.

While proving that they could play at the level of the national elite in the wins over Duke and UVa, the Hokies also proved they could play down to the level of competition that they realistically should have beaten.

"We beat two top five teams," head coach Oliver Weiss said. "We had several good results, but the inconsistencies came back to haunt us."

The 379 plus minutes that Tech held its opponents scoreless - spanning the final 22:21 of the Clemson game until the 85:32 mark of the Maryland game - was the second-best defensive effort in school history. Only the 402:35 scoreless streak in 2001 was better.

Defensively, the Hokies gave up a mere 1.13 goals per contest for the second consecutive season with junior goalkeeper Chase Harrison between the pipes. Harrison set one single-season record, while breaking two career marks. His eight shutouts on the season were the most ever during a season at Tech. The Hokies went 7-0-1 in those games, only tying William & Mary. The eight shutouts vaulted Harrison to No. 1 on the career shutouts list, passing Colin Kibler's mark of 15, set from 1998-2001. He also set the career mark for minutes played in goal, now standing at 5,269 and surpassing Kibler's record of 5,071 minutes.

The defense, not allowing many shots on goal, helped in setting the record for fewest saves in a single-season at 69. The record of fewest saves (70) had stood since 1976.

Offensively, Tech has a few players who etched their names in the record book.

Allman, leading the way with seven goals on the season, ended his career with 16 goals, just shy of the top-ten list in school history. Fellow senior, Jonmaire, added one goal to his career tally, moving him into a tie for 10^th on the career list with 19.

Nason earned All-ACC recognition, making the second team. Freshman Ian Taylor was named to the All-ACC Freshman team.

With the departure of only three players and the influx of redshirts and players that were injured early in the season, Tech looks to be back in the hunt for an ACC title during the 2005 season.

"We know what we need to do in terms of recruiting and internal issues," Weiss said. "The leadership was dim this year, but it will change with five seniors next year.

"We have to look at the positives in the season and build on that for next year."