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Inside Hokie Sports
JR.
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
MARCELO
ACUNA
M E N ’ S
S O C C E R
T
he Virginia Tech men’s soccer team bounced back from
a subpar 2015 in a big way, receiving an at-large bid to the
NCAA Tournament and advancing to the Elite Eight, both for
the first time since 2007. For sure, Marcelo Acuna played a
huge role in that turnaround.
Acuna earned third-team All-America honors after starting
22 games for the Hokies this past fall and leading the team
in goals (11), points (25) and game-winning goals (five).
Providing a much-needed scoring punch, he helped the
Hokies notch a 13-5-4 overall record in 2016—an eight-
game improvement from the previous season.
A second-team All-ACC choice, Acuna led the ACC in
shots (94) and shots per game (4.27), ranking fifth nationally
in the latter category. He finished the season third in the ACC
in goals and fourth in goals per game (0.50). He wound
up tied for 13th nationally in game-winning goals and 19th
nationally in total goals.
Acuna scored at least two goals in three games—a string
that included a hat trick in Tech’s win over VMI. However, his
most important goals came against Charlotte in the second
round of the NCAA Championship, as he scored two goals
in the Hokies’ 3-2 road upset over the 49ers.
Acuna became just the second All-American in school
history, joining Patrick Nyarko on the list —he earned
first-team honors in 2007. Acuna also received first-team
All-State honors from the Virginia Sports Information
Directors (VaSID).
,
C.E.C.
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