Men's Soccer: WVU BIG EAST Tourney Bound
October 27, 2004 10:27 PM | General
October 27, 2004
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| Pitchkolan |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University men's soccer team secured its first BIG EAST tournament berth in five seasons by defeating Pitt 2-1 in double overtime on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The Mountaineers (10-6-0) had to come back from a one-goal deficit to tie the Panthers (4-6-3) in the second half.
Pitt jumped on the board with just five minutes left before halftime when Keeyan Young took off on a breakaway and beat WVU goalkeeper Nick Noble with a low shot to his left side.
The goal jump started the Mountaineer offense as they came out shooting in the second half. After being out-shot 6-5 in the first half WVU rebounded firing off 12 in the second compared to Pitt's one.
The persistency paid off in the 76th minute when freshman Andy Wright knocked in a goal off of the assist of Dan Stratford from a free kick deep in Panther territory on the right side.
Despite numerous attempts following the Wright goal the Mountaineers couldn't find the net and the game went into extra periods.
After a scoreless first overtime period the game appeared to be on route to ending in a tie like last year in Morgantown. However, senior defender Aaron Pitchkolan would come up clutch in the waning minutes.
After a shot from a WVU attacker bounced off the crossbar Pitchkolan found himself in just the right spot three yards out to poke in his second game winning overtime goal of the season.
The win marks third straight BIG EAST win and fourth straight victory.
"Our season starts tonight," said head coach Mike Seabolt. "We head into Saturday to fight for a higher seed in the post season and then we have to get ready for the tournament so it is a new challenge for us."
Wednesday night's win moves the Mountaineers from seventh place in the conference to a tie with No. 17 Seton Hall for fourth. If WVU wins Saturday against Rutgers and the Pirates lose at Georgetown the Mountaineers would earn a BIG EAST quarterfinal home game.
WVU's road to the post season begins Saturday, Oct. 30, when it hosts Rutgers for its final Big East regular season. Kickoff at Dick Dlesk Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
West Virginia 2, Pitt 1 2OT
Scoring Summary: Pitt- Keeyan Young (40:55), Thomas Decato; WVU- Andy Wright (75:50), Dan Stratford; Aaron Pitchkolan (106:59)
Shots on Goal: WVU- 21; Pitt- 11
Corners: WVU- 8; Pitt- 5
Fouls: WVU- 10; Pitt- 23
Goalkeeping: WVU- Nick Noble, 1 GA 3 saves, 106:59 minutes; Pitt- Justin Lowery, 2 GA, 7 saves, 106:59 minutes
