BLACKSBURG, Va. –
Richie Nichols scored his first collegiate goal on Thursday night to give Loyola University Maryland a 1-0 lead in the second half at Virginia Tech, but the Hokies equalized just over 10 minutes later, and the match finished in a 1-1 draw.
Nichols scored from outside the 18 at 46:51, staking the Greyhounds (0-1-2 overall) to a 1-0 lead against the Atlantic Coast Conference side.
Sean McEvoy and
Milan Miric had shots for the Greyhounds over the next five minutes, but neither were on frame, and the Hokies (0-2-1) took advantage of possession in the 58th minute,and Oliver Roche evened the game at 1-1.
Roche had another attempt less than four minutes later that was saved by Loyola's Dylan van der Walt, and Virginia Tech recorded the next five shots in the game.
Rolando Onu took a short for the Greyhounds in the 81st minute that was stopped by Virginia Tech goalkeeper Connor Jordan-Hyde, and a Nichols attempt went off target in the 84th.
Jake Sweeney and
Caden Stafford both had shots that were off goal for Loyola, but the Greyhounds best chance to regain the lead came in the match's final 90 seconds.
Continuing to press offensively garnered the Greyhounds a corner kick, but a
Thomas Gray header went left of the goal, and the tie was preserved.
Loyola held a 14-13 advantage in shots during the game, while both van der Walt and Jordan-Hyde made three saves for their respective sides.
