MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Nov. 13, 2024) – For the second straight contest, the No. 10 and top-seeded West Virginia University men’s soccer team came from behind to advance in the Sun Belt Championship, defeating four-seed Kentucky, 2-1, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Mountaineers improve to 12-1-6 on the season while the Wildcats finish the season at 6-6-6.
The Mountaineers advance to the Sun Belt Championship Final on Sunday against No. 8 and two-seeded Marshall. It is a rematch of the 2023 Sun Belt Final but this year the game will be in Morgantown. Kickoff from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
On Wednesday, West Virginia received goals from the two Spaniards on the roster, graduate student Sergio Ors Navarro and senior Carlos Hernando. It is the second goal of the championship for each. Senior Frederik Jorgensen assisted on both goals while junior Felix Ewald collected an assist as well.
Overall, WVU outshot the Wildcats, 14-6, including a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. Kentucky had the advantage in corner kicks, 4-3.
Kentucky jumped out to a quick lead on its first shot of the game, a strike from All-Sun Belt first teamer Logan Dorsey in the third minute.
The Mountaineers answered quickly in the fifth minute as Jorgensen sent a corner kick to Ewald, who flicked it backwards in front of frame for Ors Navarro, who headed it in for his 14th goal of the season, the most for a Mountaineer since Jarrod Smith scored 14 in 2006.
The teams managed just one more shot on goal in the half as the score remained even heading into the break.
In the 54th minute, the Mountaineers earned a free kick near the goal line and Jorgensen stepped up again, sending a ball toward the box where Hernando headed it home. Jorgensen, a defender, reached a milestone on the night as surpassed the 20-career point mark.
The West Virginia defense remained strong the rest of the contest, allowing just one additional shot on goal as the Mountaineers defeated Kentucky for the first time in six tries.
Priority Sun Belt Conference Championship Final tickets will go on sale for Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) members beginning at 9 a.m., Thursday and will run through 3 p.m. MAC members can purchase tickets during the priority window by logging into their WVUGame account. Public on sale will begin at 3 p.m. General admission tickets will be $12. Students will be free with proof of valid Sun Belt Conference school ID
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