Men's Soccer: WVU Begins BIG EAST Friday
September 15, 2005 12:42 PM | General
September 15, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University men's soccer team kicks off its BIG EAST schedule this weekend as it travels to Piscataway, N.J., to face Rutgers on Friday at 8 p.m. The Mountaineers then head to Villanova, Pa., to play Villanova on Sunday at 1 p.m.
"We are really looking forward to beginning conference play this weekend," says head coach Mike Seabolt. "It is always important to get off to a good start in BIG EAST play and this season is no exception."
The Mountaineers (3-2-0) will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak after dropping both of their matches at the SMU/Radisson Hotel Classic to host SMU, 1-0, and No. 3 New Mexico, 2-0.
Although it has suffered a pair of losses WVU's defense has not allowed more than two goals in a match in its last 28 times out.
Despite being held scoreless in the matches the WVU offense has been effective this season as it has scored at least two goals in each of its wins. Junior forward Jarrod Smith leads the team in goals with two.
Junior goalkeeper Nick Noble has continued to impress in 2005 as he has recorded 22 saves and a 0.60 goals against average (GAA). The Damascus, Md., native currently leads the BIG EAST in saves (22) and shutouts (3).
Like the Mountaineers, the Scarlet Knights (1-3-0) enter Friday's match on a two-game skid. In the streak Rutgers has dropped a pair of matches to ACC opponents North Carolina and Wake Forest.
The Scarlet Knights have been led by the play of their defense as the offense has sputtered thus far and tallied only two goals.
On Sunday West Virginia will go up against a Villanova team (1-3-0) looking to get back to .500 after losses to Fairleigh Dickinson, Pennsylvania and Temple. Its lone win so far in 2005 came in its season opener against Delaware.
The Mountaineers have never lost to the Wildcats under coach Seabolt in two attempts.
