September 30, 2014
Hokies hammer VMI 5-0 at home
Baus scores two goals in victory
12F
VMI (1-7-1) 000
Virginia Tech (7-3) 415
  • Thompson Field - 874

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech men’s soccer team used a flurry of goals to defeat the VMI Keydets 5-0 at home on Tuesday evening at Thompson Field.

The Hokies (7-3, 2-1 ACC) posted an impressive 25 shots against the Keydets (1-7-1, 0-1 SoCon), while only allowing them three shots and none on goal. Tech also held an impressive 9-1 advantage in corners.

Tech held the advantage from the opening whistle and just 12 minutes into the match, the Hokies got their first goal. A VMI defender headed a ball out of their box to sophomore Som Essome. The Essen, Germany native volleyed the ball from the right side of the box into the upper 90 of the far left corner to give Tech the 1-0 lead.

Just four minutes later, freshman Merlin Baus added a goal of his own. Junior Brad Vorv received the ball in the box and slipped it to Baus who passed it by the keeper to give Tech the 2-0 advantage.

Baus doubled his tally in the 31st minute after junior Daniel Lauretano found Essome at the top of the box. Essome slipped the ball through to Baus who hit a shot over the Keydet goalkeeper and into the net to put Tech up 3-0.

The Hokies would get one more goal to end the half when freshman Rodrigo Zampieri headed the ball past the VMI keeper. Freshman Forrest White hit a corner kick that found Zampieri in the box. Zampieri headed the ball low into the net to give Tech the 4-0 lead.

That was it for the Hokies in the first half. At the break, Tech held a 13-1 advantage and a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks.

After the break, Tech came out with the same intensity as the first half, but multiple opportunities ended up being near misses.

In the 50th minute, White hit a free kick that clanked off the crossbar and out of play. The Hokies would capitalize on a chance, however, in the 60th minute. Freshman Jonathan Cruickshank found redshirt freshman James Compton in the box. Compton took the ball down, beat the Keydet goalkeeper and dribbled it into the net to bring the score to 5-0.

Tech would manage to have multiple chances to score but nothing else would find the back of the net. In a three-minute span from the 85th minute to the 88th minute, freshman Ricardo John hit the crossbar and the left post. That’s how the game would end.

With the win, Tech extends its win streak to five and it is the first time the Hokies have won five matches in a row since 2007 and the last time the Hokies have posted three straight shutouts at home since 2005. In addition, two Hokies, Zampieri and Compton, scored their first career goals. For Zampieri, this was also his first career start.

Tech returns to play on Saturday evening when the Hokies play host to No. 9 Syracuse at home at Thompson Field on Friday night. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.

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