Gillespie's Hat Trick Sends Men's Soccer Past Virginia Tech, 5-0

Tuesday, October 18

Blacksburg, Va.

6:00 PM

Princeton University

5-4-2, 1-1-1

Virginia Tech

2-11-1, 0-6-0

Princeton

Virginia Tech

Walker Gillespie 2022 Lineups vs. Vermont

Photo by: Sideline Photos, LLC

Gillespie's Hat Trick Sends Men's Soccer Past Virginia Tech, 5-0

October 18, 2022 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

You can't draw up a half much better than the one Princeton put together in the opening 45:00 at Virginia Tech as the Tigers scored four times en route to a convincing 5-0 win -- Princeton's largest shutout win since a 5-0 win over Monmouth to open the 2001 season.

Walker Gillespie had a hat trick in the match, scoring the final three goals of the game for Princeton. He is the first Tiger to score three goals in a match since Kevin O'Toole had three in the second half of a 4-1 win at Harvard in 2021.

The four goals scored in a half are the most by a Princeton team since the Tigers scored four times in the second half in a 4-1 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on October 13, 2015. The Tigers are now 2-0-0 all-time against Virginia Tech following up on a 3-2 win in 2019.

The Tigers held a 2-0 lead 8:29 into the match after capitalizing on a pair of set pieces.

First, it was Ryan Clare who found the back of the net. He got his head on a long free kick from Malik Pinto just 3:32 into the game, ending a four-game scoreless streak and propel his team forward with energy.

The Opener!

Long service in from Pinto and Clare is there for the header to get us rolling at Virginia Tech! pic.twitter.com/WMTCT3ARnn
— Princeton Men's Soccer (@TigerMensSoccer) October 18, 2022

Just under five minutes later, Daniel Ittycheria tapped in his first collegiate goal. The sequence again started from Pinto's foot as he sent in a corner kick. The service was momentarily cleared from the goal line, but Lucas Gen knocked it back into the mixer and Ittycheria slipped the ball over the line every so briefly for a 2-0 lead.

An Itty Bitty Tap-A-Roo!

Daniel Ittycheria slides home his first collegiate goal which pushed us to a 2-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/M1zen2rY2r
— Princeton Men's Soccer (@TigerMensSoccer) October 18, 2022

The final 15:00 of the first half were the Walker Gillespie show. The junior striker scored twice in a span of 6:36 -- and nearly netted a hat trick with a third shot clanging off the crossbar. His first goal came off a strong attacking move from Gillespie who charged at the Virginia Tech keeper and blocked a clearing attempt to himself before easily tapping it in for a 3-0 lead in the 32'.

Force The Issue... Reap The Rewards.

Walker Gillespie challenges the keeper and finds an easy tap in for a 3-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/szWOuN7kDS
— Princeton Men's Soccer (@TigerMensSoccer) October 18, 2022

Minutes later, Gillespie gave Princeton its third set-piece goal of the half. Ryan Winkler looped in a free kick from the left flank which Lucas Gen knocked off the bar to a waiting Gillespie who hammered home his second of the match.

Set 'Em Up... Knock 'Em Down

Winkler with a nice service, Gen rings the bar and then Walker sends home the second ball! pic.twitter.com/U7raBnVbUV
— Princeton Men's Soccer (@TigerMensSoccer) October 18, 2022

The lone goal of the second half was the capper of Gillespie's hat trick in the 82. Jack Jasinski looped in a cross from the left side, and Logan Oyama knocked it back across the grain to Gillespie who knifed home a right-footed shot to the far post for his first career hat trick. The assist was the first career point for Oyama.

82': Take A Bow, Walker Gillespie!

That's a hat trick for Walker and we lead, 5-0! pic.twitter.com/fLaAXQZ9fo
— Princeton Men's Soccer (@TigerMensSoccer) October 18, 2022

Khamari Hadaway finished with five saves for his second career shutout. For the game, Princeton outshot Virginia Tech, 27-10, and held a 17-5 edge in shots on goal.

85': Hadaway... Says No Way!

A dandy of a save from Khamari to keep VT off the board. pic.twitter.com/on0xgwOMAJ
— Princeton Men's Soccer (@TigerMensSoccer) October 18, 2022

The Tigers return home on October 22 to take on No. 21 Cornell at Roberts Stadium,. Kickoff with the Big Red is set for 4 p.m. as part of Alumni Weekend and a celebration of the opening of the new Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium.