MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Aug. 21, 2024) – The No. 3 West Virginia University men’s soccer team opens its 64th season on Thursday, Aug. 22, as it takes on Purdue Fort Wayne at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Nick Farrell and Adam Zundell have the call of Thursday's contest on ESPN+. The game also can be heard on 91.7 FM (WWVU) in Morgantown, and live stats are available at WVUsports.com.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance by visiting WVUGAME.com or calling 1-800-WVU GAME. When purchasing online, tickets are $6 each. Any remaining tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for youth at the stadium ticket window on match day. Tickets for WVU students are free with a valid student ID.
The first 500 fans in the gate get a 2023 Final Four Rally Towel. Before the gates open, Mountaineer Maniacs have a chance to go socialize with games, food and music, and it is the first chance to pick up their Mountaineer Maniac shirt.
The Mountaineers are coming off the best season in program history in which they went 17-3-4 and reached the College Cup for the first time. West Virginia peaked at No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches poll in 2023 while climbing all the way to No. 1 by both Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News.
Junior Marcus Caldeira returns to the Mountaineers after an All-American season in which he scored 12 goals and dished out three assists. Entering this season, he was tabbed the 2024 Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Caldeira was drafted by Minnesota United FC 20th overall, one of three WVU players drafted in the first round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft along with Yutaro Tsukada (25th, Orlando City) and Jackson Lee (28th, LAFC).
West Virginia returns eight starters from its 2023 College Cup team, including all four starting defenders in seniors Frederik Jorgensen, Max Broughton, Carlos Hernando, and Dante Huckaby. Jorgensen and Broughton were each named to the Sun Belt All-Preseason Team.
Ryan Baer, another Sun Belt All-Preseason team selection, returns as well alongside fellow team captain Otto Ollikainen in the midfield. The Mountaineers also bring in three experienced midfield transfers in Ethan Dekel Daks (South Carolina), Simon Carlson (Georgia State), and Felix Ewald (Temple), all of whom were named All-Conference last season.
Purdue Fort Wayne is led by fifth-year head coach Stephen Gorton, who is 17-31-9 in his tenure with the Mastodons. Last season, Purdue Fort Wayne went 7-6-4 and finished fifth in the Horizon League with a 3-3-3 conference record.
Forward Seth Mahlmeister returns after leading the team with 23 points - 10 goals and three assists - a season ago but will have to replace Soshi Fujioka, who led the squad with eight assists.
Nic Diana is the only returning goalkeeper for the Mastodons. He made two saves in a shutout of Adrian in his only action of the 2023 season.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Nick Farrell and Adam Zundell have the call of Thursday's contest on ESPN+. The game also can be heard on 91.7 FM (WWVU) in Morgantown, and live stats are available at WVUsports.com.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance by visiting WVUGAME.com or calling 1-800-WVU GAME. When purchasing online, tickets are $6 each. Any remaining tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for youth at the stadium ticket window on match day. Tickets for WVU students are free with a valid student ID.
The first 500 fans in the gate get a 2023 Final Four Rally Towel. Before the gates open, Mountaineer Maniacs have a chance to go socialize with games, food and music, and it is the first chance to pick up their Mountaineer Maniac shirt.
The Mountaineers are coming off the best season in program history in which they went 17-3-4 and reached the College Cup for the first time. West Virginia peaked at No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches poll in 2023 while climbing all the way to No. 1 by both Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News.
Junior Marcus Caldeira returns to the Mountaineers after an All-American season in which he scored 12 goals and dished out three assists. Entering this season, he was tabbed the 2024 Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Caldeira was drafted by Minnesota United FC 20th overall, one of three WVU players drafted in the first round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft along with Yutaro Tsukada (25th, Orlando City) and Jackson Lee (28th, LAFC).
West Virginia returns eight starters from its 2023 College Cup team, including all four starting defenders in seniors Frederik Jorgensen, Max Broughton, Carlos Hernando, and Dante Huckaby. Jorgensen and Broughton were each named to the Sun Belt All-Preseason Team.
Ryan Baer, another Sun Belt All-Preseason team selection, returns as well alongside fellow team captain Otto Ollikainen in the midfield. The Mountaineers also bring in three experienced midfield transfers in Ethan Dekel Daks (South Carolina), Simon Carlson (Georgia State), and Felix Ewald (Temple), all of whom were named All-Conference last season.
Purdue Fort Wayne is led by fifth-year head coach Stephen Gorton, who is 17-31-9 in his tenure with the Mastodons. Last season, Purdue Fort Wayne went 7-6-4 and finished fifth in the Horizon League with a 3-3-3 conference record.
Forward Seth Mahlmeister returns after leading the team with 23 points - 10 goals and three assists - a season ago but will have to replace Soshi Fujioka, who led the squad with eight assists.
Nic Diana is the only returning goalkeeper for the Mastodons. He made two saves in a shutout of Adrian in his only action of the 2023 season.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
