Box Score
Video interview with Daniel Kitchen and Andrew Starnes below.
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- With a goal with just five minutes left in regulation freshman Andrew Starnes gave the Virginia Military Institute men's soccer team a chance, but it was not to be Tuesday night as the Virginia Tech Hokies downed VMI 3-1.
Starnes cut Virginia Tech's 2-0 lead in half with just five minutes left to play, but Hokie junior David Clemens notched his first hat trick of the season just one and a half minutes later to seal VMI's fate.
In goal for VMI, Daniel Kitchen made his first start since Sept. 9 against Marshall University. Seeing the field for the first time in nearly a month, Kitchen fared well and made several key stops to keep the Keydets in it. The junior from Richmond made three saves in the first half, followed by five in the second stanza.
The Hokies (4-3-1) tripled VMI's shot total, taking 22 and putting 11 on cage. The Keydets (1-6-0) managed seven total shots, with the lone shot on goal coming as Starnes' tally, not allowing Hokie keeper Kyle Renfro a chance at a save. Hunter Morgan was the only VMI player to register more than one shot, taking a pair on the evening.
VMI fared well in the first half, possessing the ball well. But after an initial Kitchen save in the 30th minute, but Clemens collected the rebound and gave the Hokies their first goal of the evening..
The Hokies extended their lead 2-0 in the waning moments of the first half. David Fiorello initially took a shot that was blocked by the Keydet defense, but it was Clemens again on the rebound for his second goal of the evening, again unassisted.
VMI relented 10 shots, but Kitchen made three saves in the first 45 minutes. Virginia Tech earned six corners in the first stanza, while not allowing VMI one. Fouls were even, with VMI called four times to Virginia Tech's three.
Ten minutes into the new half, Kyle Farmer had a chance, challenging Virginia Tech keeper Renfro, who came out strong. Farmer knocked the ball over to teammate David Noel, who took a shot, but the Hokie defenders managed a team save on the play.
Late in the game, with just over five minutes left to play, Starnes sliced the Hokies' lead in half after sneaking a ball past Renfro.
However, the Hokies would score one more goal, once again coming off the foot of Clemens for his first hat trick of the season. Clemens shook loose from his defender and went one-on-one with Kitchen, just getting the ball under the diving keeper.
After playing three straight road games, the Keydets return home to Patchin Field on Saturday for their Big South Conference home opener against the Camels of Campbell University. Action is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
