Mark Berman

The Virginia Tech men’s soccer team has not made the NCAA tournament since 2021, so it was not surprising that the Hokies did not get a single vote in the United Soccer Coaches preseason Top 25 poll.

But look who is in the top 10 now.

The Hokies (2-0-1) are the No. 8 team in the country heading into Friday’s ACC opener with visiting Virginia (3-1).

“I thought that we would have a competitive group. It seems like we’ve got that,” Tech coach Mike Brizendine said this week in a phone interview. “We have guys that are into it, wanted to get better. … Guys that are hungry for success, just doing the little things.

“They are a hardworking group.”

Virginia Tech opened the season with a 1-0 home win over then-No. 3 Ohio State on Aug. 21, followed by a 2-0 home victory over Canisi

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