September 18, 2015
Hokies battle at No. 19 Louisville to 1-1 2OT draw
Merlin Baus scored his third goal of the season

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Virginia Tech men’s soccer team remained unbeaten on the road as they battled No. 19 Louisville to a 1-1 double overtime draw on Friday night.

After a scoreless first half, the Hokies finally went ahead on a Merlin Baus free kick in the 64th minute. Louisville answered back in the 75th off a cross to tie it up. The two teams headed to OT with Tech unable to find a winner and ultimately settling for a draw.

The Hokies outplayed Louisville, ranked as high as No. 10 in some polls, for most of the game and their momentum paid off as they finally went ahead on a spectacular Merlin Baus free kick in the 64th minute. Louisville was able to answer back in the 75th off a cross to tie it up.

With the result, Tech moves to 3-2-1 (0-1-1) on the season while Louisville is 3-2-2 (0-0-2).

After outshooting the Cardinals, the Hokies were finally able to beat Louisville goalkeeper Theo Jamilloux in the 64th minute. Baus stood over a free kick just outside the penalty box and hit a shot that bent around the Louisville wall and into the lower left-hand corner for a spectacular goal.

In the 75th, the Cardinals played in a ball to the back post but a misplayed cross allowed Shane Campbell to score to even things up. Tech had a few more chances to go out in front. Ricardo John had a chip shot that beat the keeper but hit the crossbar and went back into play.

The Hokies came close to taking home all three points in both overtime periods. In the first overtime Baus hit a bending shot that went just wide of the post in the 96th minute. In the second overtime, John was played into the box behind the defense but Jamilloux saved his attempt.

With the draw, the Hokies are 3-0-1 on the road this season and get a result from a ranked opponent on the road for the second time. The Hokies defeated then-No. 10 Xavier in Cincinnati on Sept. 6.

Tech outshot Louisville by a fairly wide margin of 16-9 including a 7-3 edge in shots on goal.

It was a very physical game for both teams as Louisville finished the game with just 10 men on the field after Watterson Young got a red card in the 60th minute for a late tackle in the midfield. The two teams combined for 26 fouls.

Ben Lundgaard was only tested once in the first half as he made a great save on a shot from outside the 18-yard box in the 11th minute. That shot opened up the game as both teams battled for possession and chances. Som Essome had a great look at goal in the 23rd minute but his shot across the face of the goal went a few inches wide.

In the 38th minute, Juan Pablo Saavedra forced Jamilloux to make another save. The two teams went into the half tied at 0-0.

The Hokies will be back at home on Tuesday night as they host Delaware at 7 p.m. at Thompson Field.

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