NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Sept. 1, 2023) – The West Virginia University men’s soccer team recorded its third straight shutout to begin the 2023 campaign on Friday, defeating Yale, 2-0, in the squad’s first road test of the season. The Mountaineers stay unblemished at 3-0 while the Bulldogs fall to 0-1 after their first game of the year.
For the second straight game, senior Yutaro Tsukada tallied three points with a goal and an assist while sophomore Marcus Caldeira found the back of the net for the third straight contest to begin the season.
Senior Jackson Lee did not have to make a save on the night as the WVU back line only allowed five shots, none of which were on goal.
Tsukada had a pair of shots in the first 15 minutes but could not convert. He was rewarded for his hard work in the 33rd minute as he stepped up to the penalty spot after a Yale handball in the box and calmly converted to put WVU up, 1-0.
Prior to the break, junior Dante Huckaby had a couple of opportunities, having his shot saved by the Bulldog keeper in the 36th minute before heading a shot off the right post in the 40th minute.
In the 53rd minute, Tsukada moved around a defender to get into the box before knocking the ball over to Caldeira who curled a shot around the defense and into the right side of the goal. Caldeira now has four goals in just three games this season after having five all last year.
Overall, West Virginia outshot the Bulldogs, 7-5, including a 5-0 edge in shots on goal while Yale had a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. Yale had a tough time keeping up with WVU’s speed as they committed 17 fouls compared to just nine for the Mountaineers.
It is the first time since 2006 that the Mountaineers have opened the season with three consecutive shutouts and first time since 2005 opening with three straight shutout wins. The only other instance of opening with three straight clean sheets happened in 1998. West Virginia has never begun a season with four consecutive shutouts.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
For the second straight game, senior Yutaro Tsukada tallied three points with a goal and an assist while sophomore Marcus Caldeira found the back of the net for the third straight contest to begin the season.
Senior Jackson Lee did not have to make a save on the night as the WVU back line only allowed five shots, none of which were on goal.
Tsukada had a pair of shots in the first 15 minutes but could not convert. He was rewarded for his hard work in the 33rd minute as he stepped up to the penalty spot after a Yale handball in the box and calmly converted to put WVU up, 1-0.
Prior to the break, junior Dante Huckaby had a couple of opportunities, having his shot saved by the Bulldog keeper in the 36th minute before heading a shot off the right post in the 40th minute.
In the 53rd minute, Tsukada moved around a defender to get into the box before knocking the ball over to Caldeira who curled a shot around the defense and into the right side of the goal. Caldeira now has four goals in just three games this season after having five all last year.
Overall, West Virginia outshot the Bulldogs, 7-5, including a 5-0 edge in shots on goal while Yale had a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. Yale had a tough time keeping up with WVU’s speed as they committed 17 fouls compared to just nine for the Mountaineers.
It is the first time since 2006 that the Mountaineers have opened the season with three consecutive shutouts and first time since 2005 opening with three straight shutout wins. The only other instance of opening with three straight clean sheets happened in 1998. West Virginia has never begun a season with four consecutive shutouts.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
