HARRISONBURG, Va. – Barry Sharifi scored the equalizer for Loyola University Maryland off a Brian Saramago assist in the 51^st minute Friday, but 10^th-ranked Virginia Tech came back to score just under 25 minutes later to post a 2-1 non-conference victory in the first game of the Fairfield Inn JMU Invitational.
 
"Even though we came out on the wrong side of the result, I felt that for about 45 to 50 minutes, we were the team we felt that we should be this season," said Head Coach Steve Nichols. "That said, we had to play from behind again, and we need to not put ourselves in that position."
 
The Hokies (3-0-0 overall) got on the board in the game's second minute as Daniel Pereira took a Kristo Strickler pass and scored 95 seconds into the match from 10 yards out.
 
Virginia Tech continued to control the pace for the next 15-plus minutes, but Loyola then began to push the match tempo, and the Greyhounds came out and pushed it further after halftime.
 
Sharifi evened the score for the Greyhounds, converting a shot inside the box less than six minutes into the second half. Morgan Lussi threw in a ball to Saramago who beat his defender off the dribble. Saramago served it into the middle where Sharifi headed home the goal.
 
Shortly thereafter, Saramago had two good chances, but one went just wide and another slipped high.
 
The teams combined for only three shots over the next 22-plus minutes with Loyola's Chase Vosvick making a pair of saves on the two Hokie shots, but James Kasak connected on the eventual game-winner for Virginia Tech at 75:21.
 
Sharifi played a set-piece shot from outside the 18 that pushed wide for Loyola's best chance after the Hokies took the lead.
 
Virginia Tech finished with a slim 14-12 lead in shots, while corner kicks even at five each. Vosvick made four saves in goal for the Greyhounds (0-3-0).
 
Loyola will face James Madison, the tournament host, on Sunday night at 7 o'clock.