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Game Notes

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech men's soccer team returns home to open Atlantic Coast Conference play on Friday night after recording two straight wins last week in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Hokies had an impressive 5-1 win over the Bearcats of Cincinnati on Thursday as five different players tallied a goal. Tech then faced No. 10 Xavier in Cincinnati on Sunday morning and upset the Musketeers, 3-1. Tech got goals from Ricardo John, Dylan Huber and Baus who each scored for the second straight game.

For his efforts scoring two goals and having three assists over the two games, Merlin Baus was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week this week. Baus is currently fifth nationally in total assists.

The Hokies have outscored their opponents 8-3 over the first three games of the season. Tech is ranked 13th in scoring offense and 21st in shots on goal per game. Ricardo John and Daniel Lauretano are ranked 26th individually in shots on goal per game.

Opponent History

The Hokies are 1-0-1 versus the Tar Heels in their last two meetings in Blacksburg including a 1-0 win over then No. 1 UNC on Sept. 10, 2011. The two squads have met every year since 2004 when Virginia Tech joined the ACC. Prior to that, the teams met three times between 1973-79. The Tar Heels lead the series history with a record of 10-3-1.

About North Carolina...

No. 3 UNC (3-0-1, 0-0) is coming off a 2-1 victory over Tulsa on Sunday afternoon. UNC is going on the road for the first time all season. The Tar Heels played their first four games all in Chapel Hill.

UNC lost 11 seniors from last year’s squad including their top four goal scorers. 2014 All-ACC selection and NSCAA All-South Region player Omar Holness has returned as the top goal scorer. Holness scored two goals and had seven assists last season.

UNC advanced to the quartefinals of the 2014 NCAA Tournament where they tied UCLA, but the Bruins advanced on penalty kicks.

The Tar Heels this season have been led by Raby George and Zach Wright who each have two goals. Holness has a team-best 14 shots but hasn’t scored or recorded an assist this season. UNC has used two goalies on the year with James Plye getting the majority of the minutes. He has started three of the four games and has allowed just one goal against nine saves. Sam Eueler, who played two games last season, has started one game and allowed one goal and made five saves.

The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. and a free autograph session for fans will follow.

For updates on Virginia Tech men's soccer, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_MSoccer