Hokies build on first Wake game

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Dec 14, 2007

[VIRGINIA TECH PREVIEW] The Hokies have had a varsity soccer program for 36 years, but only recently have they become national powers.

This is the third straight year Virginia Tech is in the NCAA Tournament and the first time it is at the Men's College Cup.

The Hokies are underdogs against their ACC rivals from Wake Forest, but their season took off when they came back from two goals down -- twice -- to tie Wake, 3-3, in their first meeting.

Says Hokie coach Oliver Weiss, "I think we found out in that game that we had something special."

KEYS TO SUCCESS:

1. Patrick Nyarko is Virginia Tech's go-to player. He hasn't scored often in 2007, but he'll need to push the buttons, as Coach Oliver Weiss likes to say, if the Hokies are to beat Wake.

2. Last week the Hokies shut down high-scoring UConn in terrible playing conditions. On Friday, they'll have a harder time against the Demon Deacons, whom Weiss calls "magicians." In particular, Virginia Tech will need to shut off Wake's passing lanes.

3. Nyarko can't do it alone. He'll need help from giant Englishman Robert Edmans, whose header set up the winning goal at UConn.

STARTERS:
GOALKEEPER
26 Markus Aigner (JR Germany) GAA 0.98

DEFENDERS
2 Alexander Baden (JR Germany) 2-3-7
4 James Shupp (FR Downingtown, Pa.) 0-0-0
9 Marcus Reed (SR Chesapeake, Va.) 2-3-7
16 Bryan Collier (JR Fayetteville, Ga.) 1-0-2

MIDFIELDERS
3 Georg Zehender (SR Germany) 4-9-17
8 Scott Spangler (SR Media, Pa.) 1-5-7
10 Charlie Campbell (SO Mundelein, Ill.) 4-5-13
14 Ben Nason (SR Stafford, Va.) 7-2-16

FORWARDS
12 Patrick Nyarko (JR Ghana) 7-10-24
15 Robert Edmans (JR England) 7-5-19

KEY RESERVES:
7  Stefan Hock (JR Germany) 5-3-13
20 James Gilson (SO Greenwood Lake, N.Y.)
18 Craig Brutus (SO Levittown, Pa.) 0-0-0
22 Scott Dillie (JR Pittsburgh, Pa.) 3-1-7