Posted: Mar 04, 2023
Jackets Topple Top Ranked Hokies
Virginia Tech
(5-1, 2-0)
13
Georgia Tech
(7-0, 4-0)
14
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Virginia Tech (5-1, 2-0) | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 13 |
|
Georgia Tech (7-0, 4-0) | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets faced off against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Friday in a matchup of the top two teams in the MCLA Coaches Poll. The game was also a rematch of last year's MCLA quarterfinal matchup which saw the Jackets upset the top seed Hokies. The atmosphere at Roe Stamps Field was electric after a pregame thunderstorm blew through. The Jackets got on the board first when Nick Witten fed Brooks Baro. The Hokies would answer shortly thereafter. Devin Raun got on the board in early offense to nose the Jackets back in front. Again the Hokies would answer this time scoring two in a row to take their first lead of the game. Asher Wagnon tied the game up on a dodger to the middle of the field. The Hokies added two quick goals at the end of the quarter to lead 5-3.
Pierce Quarles got on the board early in the second quarter to bring the Jackets within one. Matt Seifert got the ground ball on the ensuing faceoff and fed a cutting Max Lucas who fired home a shot to tie the game once again. Wagnon found Lucas a few minutes later to put the Jackets back on top. The Hokies responded with their first goal of the quarter. Witten got his second assist of the game feeding Pierce Quarles for a low to high shot from left wing to give the Jackets the edge. Just before half the Hokies found the back of the net to knot the game at seven at the break.
The teams traded goals early in the third before a series of errors and penalties lead to the Hokies dominating possession for the rest of the quarter. Virginia Tech scored four straight goals before Pierce Quarles stemmed the tide to put the score at 12-9 in favor of the Hokies after three quarters.
Virginia Tech scored right away to start the fourth, but from then on the defense tightened up and did not allow another goal. Hudson Higgins, Connor Koelsch, and George Corbin anchored the unit. Freshman Owen Armentrout finished with 16 saves for the Jackets. The tightened defense allowed the Jacket offense to chip away at the lead. Sam Eck scored three straight goals over a five minute span to pull Tech within one. Freshman Matthew Mathias fed Max Lucas in transition for the tying goal. A few minutes later Sam Eck scored his fourth goal of the quarter to give the Jackets the lead. As the game wore on the Tech defense was stingy and turned away the Hokies multiple times. The Jacket offense milked the clock and was able seal the win the for Jackets.
The Yellow Jackets will next face the California Golden Bears on Sunday March 5.
