WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 5, 2023) – The West Virginia men’s soccer team earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over American, Tuesday, to remain perfect this season. The Mountaineers improve to 4-0 while the Eagles fall to 0-2-1.
Sophomore Marcus Caldeira scored his fifth goal of the season, tied for the most in the country with two other players. It also matches his total from his freshman season a year ago.
Junior Otto Ollikainen notched the game-winning goal in the second half, his first of the season and just the second of his career while freshman Constantinos Christou collected the assist on the goal.
The Mountaineers surrendered their first goal of the season, but senior Jackson Lee still earned his fourth win of the year in goal, making two saves.
Overall, the Mountaineers outshout the Eagles, 14-5, including a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. West Virginia also took seven corner kicks compared to just three for American.
The first chance of the game came in the 10th minute on a WVU corner as junior Dante Huckaby got his head on the ball, but it went off the post and out of play. American had its first chance in the 19th minute with a clean shot in the box, but Lee was there to make the diving save.
In the 23rd minute, the Mountaineers got on the board thanks to a mistake by the Eagle defense. An American goal kick bounced off an Eagle defender and went right to Caldeira who had just the keeper to beat. On his first touch of the game after coming in as a sub, Caldeira took a couple of dribbles before slotting the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net.
Just about 10 minutes later, American evened up the score as Samuel Hershey headed a shot past Lee to make it 1-1 heading into the break.
In the second half, West Virginia went on the attack and earned a couple of corners but had nothing to show for it until the 70th minute when Christou sent a corner to the far post where Ollikainen outjumped his man and headed the ball past the keeper to put the Mountaineers back in front.
American pushed forward in the final 20 minutes, but the Mountaineer defense was there every time to clear the ball away and secure the victory.
The Mountaineers will return home on Saturday to take on No. 6 Portland. Kickoff from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 1 p.m. with free admission for all fans.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Sophomore Marcus Caldeira scored his fifth goal of the season, tied for the most in the country with two other players. It also matches his total from his freshman season a year ago.
Junior Otto Ollikainen notched the game-winning goal in the second half, his first of the season and just the second of his career while freshman Constantinos Christou collected the assist on the goal.
The Mountaineers surrendered their first goal of the season, but senior Jackson Lee still earned his fourth win of the year in goal, making two saves.
Overall, the Mountaineers outshout the Eagles, 14-5, including a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. West Virginia also took seven corner kicks compared to just three for American.
The first chance of the game came in the 10th minute on a WVU corner as junior Dante Huckaby got his head on the ball, but it went off the post and out of play. American had its first chance in the 19th minute with a clean shot in the box, but Lee was there to make the diving save.
In the 23rd minute, the Mountaineers got on the board thanks to a mistake by the Eagle defense. An American goal kick bounced off an Eagle defender and went right to Caldeira who had just the keeper to beat. On his first touch of the game after coming in as a sub, Caldeira took a couple of dribbles before slotting the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net.
Just about 10 minutes later, American evened up the score as Samuel Hershey headed a shot past Lee to make it 1-1 heading into the break.
In the second half, West Virginia went on the attack and earned a couple of corners but had nothing to show for it until the 70th minute when Christou sent a corner to the far post where Ollikainen outjumped his man and headed the ball past the keeper to put the Mountaineers back in front.
American pushed forward in the final 20 minutes, but the Mountaineer defense was there every time to clear the ball away and secure the victory.
The Mountaineers will return home on Saturday to take on No. 6 Portland. Kickoff from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 1 p.m. with free admission for all fans.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
