Men’s Soccer Travels to St. Francis (Pa.) Saturday
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 25, 2015) – The West Virginia University men’s soccer team begins a stretch of three matches in seven days when it faces St. Francis (Pa.), on Saturday, October 3 at 3 p.m. in Loretto, Pa.
The Mountaineers (3-5-0) look to improve on a 14-4-1 record vs. the Red Flash (5-2-3) and a perfect 5-0 mark on the road. The match, originally scheduled to be played at 7:30 p.m. on SFU’s artificial turf field, has been moved to 3 p.m. at the natural-grass Stoke Soccerplex.
“They’re winning games. They’re a tough defensive team, I don’t think they’ve conceded a goal at home yet this season,” WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said of SFU. “They haven’t been beaten at home yet this season. They’re a tough team with a little bit more experience. Last year they stole a game against us. They’re a battle-tested team, a resilient team. For us this year, it’s going to be about being more proficient in the final third with our opportunities.”
Fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person can follow along with live stats at SFUathletics.com. Updates will also be available on social media by following and connecting with @WVUMensSoccer onTwitter, Facebook and Instagram.
In addition to beginning a seven day streak with three matches, Saturday’s contest comes after consecutive games with seven days off. WVU hosted No. 18/RV Georgetown on Sept. 20 and UNC Greensboro on Sept. 26. The two extended stretches between games finishes as West Virginia plays at SFU on Saturday, at Virginia Tech on Tuesday and hosts Western Michigan on Friday.
WVU is coming off a 1-0 win over UNC Greensboro on Sept. 26. Freshman Tucker Stephenson netted the game winner, his first career goal. He was rewarded with Mid-America Conference Player of the Week honors, the first for the Mountaineers this season. Freshman Alec Boerner earned his first career win and shutout in goal.
WVU is among the conference and national leaders in several categories. The Mountaineers are first in the Mid-American Conference and 23rd nationally with a 2.00 scoring offense. West Virginia is fourth in the country with 2.50 assists per game and ninth in total assists, with 20. WVU is also 13th in points per game with 6.50 and 23rd in total points with 52.
Individually, sophomore Joey Piatczyc leads the nation averaging 1.00 assist per game and is also first with eight total assists. Senior Ryan Cain is 11th with 0.83 goals per game and 21st with 1.67 points per game.
SCOUTING ST. FRANCIS
St. Francis enters the weekend with a 5-2-3 record after a 1-0 win over Duquesne on Wednesday. The Red Flash are 4-0-1 at home and have yet to allow a goal on their home field. SFU has allowed just five goals on the year and scored 10. Saturday’s match vs. WVU is St Francis’ first of the season against a team from a “Power 5” conference.
The Red Flash are coached by Paulo Neto, in his first season. Neto came to SFU from Shorter University in Rome, Ga., where he led his team to the NCCAA-I Final Four in 2013.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE RED FLASH
WVU is 14-4-1 all-time vs. St. Francis. The Mountaineers own a perfect 5-0 record on the road. Last season, SFU claimed a 1-0 win in Morgantown. The two teams played every season from 1964-1973 before the series was renewed in 1996. In the Marlon LeBlanc era, WVU beat SFU 1-0 in overtime in 2008 at home before last season’s loss.
UP NEXT: AT VIRGINIA TECH
WVU’s roadtrip continues at Virginia Tech on Tuesday, October 6 at 7 p.m. The Mountaineers return home to begin conference play vs. Western Michigan on Friday, October 9. Kickoff has been moved 30 minutes later, to 7:30 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
LAST TIME OUT: VS. UNCG
It took 84 minutes, but WVU found the back of the net on a goal by freshman Tucker Stephenson to defeat UNC Greensboro, 1-0 on September 26. Stephenson connected on a header at 83:40 for the first goal of his collegiate career. He was assisted by senior Jamie Merriam and sophomore Joey Piatczyc. Piatczyc’s assist was his NCAA-high-tying eighth of the year and Merriam’s second. In goal, Alec Boerner, a freshman, earned his first career win and shutout in a three-save outing.
MAC REWARDS STEPHENSON
After his first career goal, the game-winner in WVU’s 1-0 win over UNCG, freshman Tucker Stephenson was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week on September 28. Stephenson connected on a header at 83:40 for the only shot on goal of the match for the Mountaineers. He also had a team-high tying three shots in the contest.
Stephenson earned WVU’s first MAC Player of the Week accolade of the season, and the fifth since the Mountaineers joined the league in 2012. Andy Bevin was named Player of the Week once in 2013 and 2014, while Ryan Cain and Jad Arslan also received the weekly award last season.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 25, 2015) – The West Virginia University men’s soccer team begins a stretch of three matches in seven days when it faces St. Francis (Pa.), on Saturday, October 3 at 3 p.m. in Loretto, Pa.
The Mountaineers (3-5-0) look to improve on a 14-4-1 record vs. the Red Flash (5-2-3) and a perfect 5-0 mark on the road. The match, originally scheduled to be played at 7:30 p.m. on SFU’s artificial turf field, has been moved to 3 p.m. at the natural-grass Stoke Soccerplex.
“They’re winning games. They’re a tough defensive team, I don’t think they’ve conceded a goal at home yet this season,” WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said of SFU. “They haven’t been beaten at home yet this season. They’re a tough team with a little bit more experience. Last year they stole a game against us. They’re a battle-tested team, a resilient team. For us this year, it’s going to be about being more proficient in the final third with our opportunities.”
Fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person can follow along with live stats at SFUathletics.com. Updates will also be available on social media by following and connecting with @WVUMensSoccer onTwitter, Facebook and Instagram.
In addition to beginning a seven day streak with three matches, Saturday’s contest comes after consecutive games with seven days off. WVU hosted No. 18/RV Georgetown on Sept. 20 and UNC Greensboro on Sept. 26. The two extended stretches between games finishes as West Virginia plays at SFU on Saturday, at Virginia Tech on Tuesday and hosts Western Michigan on Friday.
WVU is coming off a 1-0 win over UNC Greensboro on Sept. 26. Freshman Tucker Stephenson netted the game winner, his first career goal. He was rewarded with Mid-America Conference Player of the Week honors, the first for the Mountaineers this season. Freshman Alec Boerner earned his first career win and shutout in goal.
WVU is among the conference and national leaders in several categories. The Mountaineers are first in the Mid-American Conference and 23rd nationally with a 2.00 scoring offense. West Virginia is fourth in the country with 2.50 assists per game and ninth in total assists, with 20. WVU is also 13th in points per game with 6.50 and 23rd in total points with 52.
Individually, sophomore Joey Piatczyc leads the nation averaging 1.00 assist per game and is also first with eight total assists. Senior Ryan Cain is 11th with 0.83 goals per game and 21st with 1.67 points per game.
SCOUTING ST. FRANCIS
St. Francis enters the weekend with a 5-2-3 record after a 1-0 win over Duquesne on Wednesday. The Red Flash are 4-0-1 at home and have yet to allow a goal on their home field. SFU has allowed just five goals on the year and scored 10. Saturday’s match vs. WVU is St Francis’ first of the season against a team from a “Power 5” conference.
The Red Flash are coached by Paulo Neto, in his first season. Neto came to SFU from Shorter University in Rome, Ga., where he led his team to the NCCAA-I Final Four in 2013.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE RED FLASH
WVU is 14-4-1 all-time vs. St. Francis. The Mountaineers own a perfect 5-0 record on the road. Last season, SFU claimed a 1-0 win in Morgantown. The two teams played every season from 1964-1973 before the series was renewed in 1996. In the Marlon LeBlanc era, WVU beat SFU 1-0 in overtime in 2008 at home before last season’s loss.
UP NEXT: AT VIRGINIA TECH
WVU’s roadtrip continues at Virginia Tech on Tuesday, October 6 at 7 p.m. The Mountaineers return home to begin conference play vs. Western Michigan on Friday, October 9. Kickoff has been moved 30 minutes later, to 7:30 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
LAST TIME OUT: VS. UNCG
It took 84 minutes, but WVU found the back of the net on a goal by freshman Tucker Stephenson to defeat UNC Greensboro, 1-0 on September 26. Stephenson connected on a header at 83:40 for the first goal of his collegiate career. He was assisted by senior Jamie Merriam and sophomore Joey Piatczyc. Piatczyc’s assist was his NCAA-high-tying eighth of the year and Merriam’s second. In goal, Alec Boerner, a freshman, earned his first career win and shutout in a three-save outing.
MAC REWARDS STEPHENSON
After his first career goal, the game-winner in WVU’s 1-0 win over UNCG, freshman Tucker Stephenson was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week on September 28. Stephenson connected on a header at 83:40 for the only shot on goal of the match for the Mountaineers. He also had a team-high tying three shots in the contest.
Stephenson earned WVU’s first MAC Player of the Week accolade of the season, and the fifth since the Mountaineers joined the league in 2012. Andy Bevin was named Player of the Week once in 2013 and 2014, while Ryan Cain and Jad Arslan also received the weekly award last season.
