ATLANTA (Sept. 30, 2023) – Having depended on its defense for most of the season, the No. 4 West Virginia University men’s soccer team relied on its offensive firepower on Saturday against Georgia State, defeating the Panthers, 4-3. The Mountaineers remain unbeaten this season and improve to 8-0-2 and 1-0-2 in Sun Belt play while GSU falls to 3-3-4 and 1-1-1 in conference action.
It is the fourth time in program history that the Mountaineers have had an unbeaten streak of 10 or more, having also done so in 1966, 1973, and 2021. The first instance was the most impressive as the Mountaineers set the school record by winning 12 straight matches.
Senior Luke McCormick scored a brace, his first two goals of the season. Senior Yutaro Tsukada also collected four points on a goal and two assists while senior Sergio Ors Navarro found the back of the net for the third time this season. Juniors Frederik Jorgensen and Dante Huckaby as well as sophomore Marcus Caldeira all picked up assists.
The Mountaineers put the pressure on all game as nine of their 12 shots were on goal while GSU had seven shots on goal on 13 total shots. Each team took five corners in the evenly contested match.
Georgia State took the early lead in the fifth minute, forcing the Mountaineers to play from behind for the first time this season.
West Virginia looked for the equalizing goal all half and finally got it in the 40th minute as Tsukada scored a world-class goal from outside the box, bending his shot into the upper-right corner of the net.
Not satisfied with the score even heading into the locker room, the Mountaineers took the lead just a few minutes later. Tsukada sent the ball to a streaking Ors Navarro down the middle of the pitch, who took one touch before firing a shot that the goalie got a piece of, but not enough, as the ball went high into the air before coming down and spinning into the net.
The Mountaineers remained in front until the 73rd minute when the Panthers scored to even up the match at two.
Just a few moments later, however, WVU retook the lead in the 77th minute as McCormick scored his first goal of the season. Tsukada started the attack by dribbling nearly 50 yards before dropping the ball off for McCormick in the box, who fired a shot past the keeper.
McCormick was not done, scoring his second goal of the match in the 83rd minute, taking a ball from Caldeira and slotting it into the back of the net.
Georgia State did not go down quietly, scoring in the 85th minute to get back within one goal. The Panthers had a chance to equalize in the 88th minute, getting a clean header off a corner, but senior Jackson Lee made his fourth and biggest save of the night.
The Mountaineers are back in action on Wednesday when Loyola (Md.) comes to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. It will be Dollar Night with all tickets and select concessions available for just a dollar.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
It is the fourth time in program history that the Mountaineers have had an unbeaten streak of 10 or more, having also done so in 1966, 1973, and 2021. The first instance was the most impressive as the Mountaineers set the school record by winning 12 straight matches.
Senior Luke McCormick scored a brace, his first two goals of the season. Senior Yutaro Tsukada also collected four points on a goal and two assists while senior Sergio Ors Navarro found the back of the net for the third time this season. Juniors Frederik Jorgensen and Dante Huckaby as well as sophomore Marcus Caldeira all picked up assists.
The Mountaineers put the pressure on all game as nine of their 12 shots were on goal while GSU had seven shots on goal on 13 total shots. Each team took five corners in the evenly contested match.
Georgia State took the early lead in the fifth minute, forcing the Mountaineers to play from behind for the first time this season.
West Virginia looked for the equalizing goal all half and finally got it in the 40th minute as Tsukada scored a world-class goal from outside the box, bending his shot into the upper-right corner of the net.
Not satisfied with the score even heading into the locker room, the Mountaineers took the lead just a few minutes later. Tsukada sent the ball to a streaking Ors Navarro down the middle of the pitch, who took one touch before firing a shot that the goalie got a piece of, but not enough, as the ball went high into the air before coming down and spinning into the net.
The Mountaineers remained in front until the 73rd minute when the Panthers scored to even up the match at two.
Just a few moments later, however, WVU retook the lead in the 77th minute as McCormick scored his first goal of the season. Tsukada started the attack by dribbling nearly 50 yards before dropping the ball off for McCormick in the box, who fired a shot past the keeper.
McCormick was not done, scoring his second goal of the match in the 83rd minute, taking a ball from Caldeira and slotting it into the back of the net.
Georgia State did not go down quietly, scoring in the 85th minute to get back within one goal. The Panthers had a chance to equalize in the 88th minute, getting a clean header off a corner, but senior Jackson Lee made his fourth and biggest save of the night.
The Mountaineers are back in action on Wednesday when Loyola (Md.) comes to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. It will be Dollar Night with all tickets and select concessions available for just a dollar.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
