Virginia Tech jumped to an early lead and pulled away for a 2-0 upset win over Wake Forest Sept. 7 in Blacksburg, Va., landing in the Top 20 for the first time in the program’s history. Hokies junior Stanislav Licul, who hails from Pula, Croatia, became the first player to score on the Demon Deacons this season when he put the ball in the net in the fourth minute, assisted by freshman Fred Silva. Senior Mark Ludwig netted the insurance goal in the 57th minute, also assisted by Silva and junior Matt Whalen. Hokies keeper John Sexton was a wall on defense, stopping 12 shots en route to his second shutout of the week. “[Wake Forest] is the biggest game that Tech has ever won in the five years that I’ve been here,” said Sexton, a fifth-year senior. “We have never beaten an ACC team and this is definitely the biggest game of my career.”
Cardinal wins eighth in a row
Who’s got the longest active winning streak in the Division I ranks? You’d be surprised to know it’s Stanford, which ran its record to 3-0-0 in ’97 and extended its win streak to eight games, dating back to last season. Junior midfielder A.J. Sauer, silent in the season opening win over San Jose State, caught fire at the UNLV Coors Light Invitational in Las Vegas, scoring twice in a 4-0 win over Cal State Northridge, then netting the only goal in the 80th minute to bump off the host and win the tourney. Second-year coach Bobby Clark has solidified his defense. Over the eight-game win streak, opponents have managed only four goals.
Seattle Pacific wins stadium opener
Seattle Pacific opened the new Interbay Soccer Stadium by beating Sonoma State 3-2 in a clash of Division II West Coast powers Sept. 6. While the stadium is not completely finished, only 400 seats were available. Freshman forward Vadim Tostolutsky tested the nets early, scoring seven minutes in, and added an assist on what proved to be the gamewinner in the 30th minute. “I knew coming into this game that this would be a night to remember,” said SPU coach Cliff McCrath, whose team has played on 12 different fields in the Seattle area over the past 23 years.
Ramirez wins 200th at Long Island
Arnold Ramirez, in his 19th year as head coach at Long Island University, picked up his 200th victory with a 3-2 win over Buffalo. The win was also the 400th for the school, now in its 50th year of soccer…. New Hampshire forward Michael Keevan was named Offensive MVP of Vermont’s Smith Barney Classic after leading his team to the tournament title. Keevan tied the tournament record with eight points, and figured in all of the scoring for the 4-0-0 Wildcats…. West Virginia forward Andy Leardini single handedly turned the tables on Duquesne in a 5-1 win Sept. 3. The Mountaineers were trailing 1-0 when Leardini scored three straight goals and assisted on the fourth to lead his team to victory.