The 11th-ranked and fifth-seeded University of Louisville men’s soccer team was upset 2-1 by 12th-seeded Virginia Tech in the opening round of the 2022 ACC Championship on Wednesday night at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium.
The loss ends Louisville’s run in the ACC Championship and the Cardinals will now await their NCAA Tournament selection. The Division I Men’s Soccer Selection Show is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 14.
Virginia Tech came out quickly on Wednesday night, taking the opening three shots of the match and forcing a pair of saves by Ryan Troutman.
Louisville found the back of the net in the 27th minute on a header by Josh Jones, but the sophomore defender was ruled to be offside to wipe off the goal.
The Hokies capitalized quickly, earning a corner kick two minutes later and converting the set piece into the match’s first goal.
The Cardinals picked up the equalizer less than eight minutes later. A foul gave the Cards a free kick just outside the box in the 37th minute. Konstantinos Georgalides lofted a cross that found the head of Jones who laid it off perfectly for Bradley Sample to place home with the left foot.
The goal was the first of the season and third of the career for Sample, but his second career postseason tally.
The match went to the half level at one, but the Hokies were the first ones on the scoreboard once again in the second half. VT got free on a counterattack and moved back in front in the 55th minute.
Louisville had numerous chances over the final 35 minutes of the match, totaling 14 shots in the second half, including a flurry of chances in the closing minutes.
Brandon McManus had a header sneak just outside the right post in the 88th minute and Georgalides had a potential match-tying shot tipped over the crossbar one minute later.
The Cardinals took three corner kicks in the final 90 seconds, two of which resulted in headers from Jones, but they were unable to find the equalizer.
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| STEPHEN WILLIAMSAssistant Sports Information Director | Louisville Athletics |