Roos Open Season with Draw Against No. 15 Virginia Tech

Thursday, August 26

Harrisonburg, VA

3:00 PM

Kansas City

0-0-1, 0-0-0

No. 15 Virginia Tech

0-0-1, 0-0-0

Kansas City

Virginia Tech

Roos Open Season with Draw Against No. 15 Virginia Tech

8/26/2021 7:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

Shfeo Lar's 66th minute goal equalized the match, which was called short due to the weather

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Following 94 minutes of play, three weather delays and four goals, Kansas City men's soccer's season opener against No. 15 Virginia Tech was called a draw, giving the Roos their first result over a ranked opponent since 2013. An 18th minute penalty kick by Edson Murguia gave the Roos the lead early, and a 66th minute Shfeo Lar goal drew KC back even to secure the draw. Due to inclement weather, the game was called off after four minutes of extra time play.

KEY MOMENTS

2' | The Roos defense was a wall in the beginning stages of the game, blocking the first shot attempt of the day by Virginia Tech.
6' | Kansas City were aggressive early in the match, earning a Jony Munoz shot on goal that was saved by the Hokies' keeper.
18' | After a foul by Virginia Tech in the box, Murguia stepped up to score the Roos' first goal of the season, slipping the PK past the Hokies' goalie.
20' | Cooper Clark showed his prowess early, making a save on a Virginia Tech opportunity.
34' | After Clark made a diving save, the Hokies corralled the rebound and put it away to draw even.
36' | Virginia Tech struck quickly again on another second chance opportunity.
63' | Another big save by Clark kept the Roos within striking distance and set the stage for Lar's goal
66' | Lar made the Roos' first shot of the second half count, taking an assist from Dennis Mensah and putting the ball in the back of the net to knot the score at 2-2.
70' | The equalizing goal gave the Roos a shot of energy, with Kazuki Kimura quickly finding another shot opportunity.
80' | Clark swooped in for another save on a shot to the right side of the net to keep the game even.
86' | In his first action as a Roo, Arne Neufang found an opening to take a shot, sending the ball off-target.
94' | After delaying the start of the game twice, lighting struck once again, causing the officials to call the match as a 2-2 draw.

STATS TO NOTE

The draw is the first time the Roos have earned a point against a ranked team since 2013, when Kansas City played No. 13 Tulsa to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 13.
Cooper Clark was in mid-season form, making saves on eight of the Hokies' shot attempts. The 2020 Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year's career-high is nine saves against Oral Roberts last season.
With three shots on goal and six shots total, the Roos were on target with 50% of their shots.
Despite being outshot on goal 10-3, Kansas City made the most of its opportunities, placing 66.7% of their shots on goal into the back of the net.
Kyle Reese was the lone Roo outfielder to play all 94 minutes, followed closely by Kotaro Hirokawa with 90.
Substitutions earned half of the Roos' shots, with Neufang, Kimura and Lar all coming off the bench for Coach Pore.

COACH RYAN PORE, QUOTED
"I thought we started very sluggish and timid. Edson did well to create a penalty and put it away. I wasn't happy with the way we ended the first half, but we challenged them at half time and are proud of their effort in the second half. We were pushing for the win, but unfortunately the weather had different plans. Now, we recover to play another good team in JMU on Sunday."

UP NEXT
The Roos will close the JMU Invitational out with a match against the hosts, ranked 21st in the nation. It will mark the first time that the Roos have played back-to-back games against ranked opponents since 2015, when the KC played No. 24 Seattle U and No. 25 Utah Valley consecutively.