Season Opener
August 31, 2005 02:50 PM | General
August 31, 2005
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| McTavish |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University soccer team kicks off its 2005 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the Mountaineers play host to Campbell and Temple in the Labor Day Shootout Presented by Jersey's Subs. Also competing in the four-team event is Marshall, though the two schools won’t meet in the tournament.
The first match of the evening between Temple and Marshall begins at 5 p.m. and is followed by WVU-Campbell at 7:30. On Saturday, Marshall and Campbell start the matches off at 3 p.m., while West Virginia and Temple play at 5:30. Both Mountaineer matches can be heard live on MSNsportsNET.com by subscribing to CSTV’s All-Access package.
The Mountaineers enter the 2005 season coming off one of their best campaigns in recent history as they posted a 12-7-1 mark and advanced to the semifinals of the BIG EAST tournament for the first time in school history. The season was also highlighted by victories over nationally ranked Notre Dame (No. 9) and St. John's (No. 11).
"We are all very excited to be hosting the shootout this week," says third-year WVU head coach Mike Seabolt. "All three teams visiting Morgantown are top-caliber programs and are on the rise in their respective conferences."
Senior Devon McTavish is expected to be one of West Virginia’s leaders in 2005. The Winchester, Va., is the team's most seasoned veteran playing in 15 more matches than any other Mountaineer player with 52. Last season, McTavish tied Dan Stratford for the team lead in goals with six.
In WVU's first match, the Mountaineers will face a Campbell team that looks poised for a breakout season in 2005 after a disappointing 6-10-1 record last year. Both of the Camels’ top goal scorers from last season, sophomores K.K. Lima and Willy Guadarrama, return to lead the offense. Campbell also returns junior goalkeeper Brandon Kirksey, who recorded over 1,500 minutes tending the net last season and posted a 1.82 goals against average.
The Mountaineers' second match of the shootout on Saturday pits them against an old Atlantic 10 rival in Temple. The Owls have never lost to West Virginia in six meetings and will look to continue that streak. Temple's defense should be stout as last season it gave up less than a goal an outing (0.93). The Owls offense is solid as well as it returns leading goal scorers Tony Donatelli and Stephen Bristow, who scored six and four goals, respectively.
Also competing in the shootout is Marshall. The Thundering Herd has never faced either Campbell or Temple in its soccer history. Marshall returns eight of 11 starters from its 2004 squad that finished 10-7-3. Huntington, W.Va., native Karim Boukhemis returns this season after leading the team with 16 points (seven goals and two assists).
Fans attending the shootout will be awarded coupons from Jersey's Subs for discounts on a one-topping pizza.
