Soccer Notebook
October 02, 2006 03:01 PM | General
October 1, 2006
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| Everrett | Smith |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – At the start of the season new men’s soccer coach Marlon LeBlanc found himself telling his players to go sic ‘em. In their old system the players were instructed to pack it in and protect leads, not taking any unnecessary chances.
The result was often boring 1-0 soccer matches with the ball rarely leaving the middle of the field. Today LeBlanc wants his team going forward, pressing the action.
“There was some early frustration in that we’d get ahead and then go into a defensive shell,” LeBlanc said last week. “But now I see us turning the corner in terms of we’re really committed to going forward and attacking. We’re committed to going after games and winning them; not trying to hold onto games when we’re up 1-0.”
The men’s program had perhaps their most productive week of play in the history of the program last week, knocking off two long-time Eastern staples on the road in Penn State and Connecticut. West Virginia’s combined record against those two programs heading into this year was 5-30-3.
“The sky is the limit for this team,” LeBlanc said.
LeBlanc’s outlook on the season changed when his team went down to Charlottesville, Va., and battled the No. 1-ranked Cavaliers to a 2-1 overtime loss.
“The loss at Virginia might have been the best thing that could have ever happened to us because we played Virginia a man down and we played well enough to win,” LeBlanc said. “Now these guys have a belief that we can beat anybody in the country and that’s important.”
Equally important is the team embracing LeBlanc’s aggressive offensive philosophy.
“We’re putting up goals like we’ve never put up goals before,” LeBlanc said. “Jarrod Smith has already exceeded his career high in goals for the season (10) and we’ve still got six games left plus post-season play. I tell the guys before the game to enjoy the moment, have fun and excite the crowd.
“That’s what we want to do.”
Briefly:
The largest crowd to witness a WVU men’s soccer game at Dick Dlesk Stadium this year was 713 for the Cincinnati match on Sept. 8. This years' team, ranked in the Top 10 in every major poll, deserves a large and vocal welcome on Wednesday night when it plays host to rival Pitt at 7 pm. Tickets for the match are $1 along with $1 cokes, popcorn and hot dogs.
Everrett is ranked fifth in the country this week averaging 2.33 goals per game. Everrett and Middle Tennessee State's Kala Morgan lead the country with 12 goals each.
