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Game Notes

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech men's soccer team opens up a challenging 2015 slate as they play host to UNC Greensboro on Friday night.

Tech enters the season after posting a 7-8-2 overall record in 2014. The Hokies went 2-5-1 in ACC play. Tech returns a large portion of last year’s young squad including the top three finishers in points, none of which are seniors.

Ricardo John, an All-ACC second-team selection as a freshman, leads the way after scoring five goals, a team-high, and providing one assist last season. His 11 points were matched by junior Som Essomé, who scored three goals and dished out five assists. Sophomore midfielder Merlin Baus is also back after scoring three goals and adding two assists.

Ben Lundguaard will be between the posts this season after sharing time as a freshman last year. He posted a .500 record in goal going 5-5-2 in the 12 games he started and played. He had an .803 save percentage and allowed 1.1 goals per game.

The Hokies were a second half team last year as they scored 12 of their 19 goals after halftime. The team also posted a solid home record going 4-2-2 within the friendly confines of Thompson Field.

The Hokies are 5-8-1 all-time against UNCG but are 4-5-1 in the last 10 meetings. The two squads faced off last season with Tech making the trip to Greensboro, North Carolina, and knocking off the Spartans 1-0. Colin Verfurth scored the lone goal with a header in the 50th minute of the game. UNCG outshot the Hokies 17-10 but Tech was able to hold on for the win.

UNCG returns 15 letterwinners from last year’s team and added 16 new faces to make up this year’s squad. The Spartans went 6-12-2 last year and 5-4-1 in Southern Conference play.

Sophomore Eric Gunnarsson is the man to watch for the Spartans, as he was selected to the preseason All-Southern Conference team after a solid freshman campaign that included two goals. Christopher Reingen is the returning leading scorer with a team-high four goals last year for the Spartans of UNCG.

The game is set for an 8:30 p.m. kickoff at Thompson Field, and admission and parking is free to all home matches.

For updates on Virginia Tech men's soccer, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_MSoccer