Men's Soccer: Noble Breaks Shutout Record in Win
August 29, 2006 10:12 PM | General
August 29, 2006
BOX SCORE
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| Nick Noble |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University men’s soccer team recorded its third consecutive shutout of the 2006 season as it defeated Bucknell 1-0, on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown, W.Va.
The shutout was an especially historical one for Mountaineer goalkeeper Nick Noble, as it marked a school record 29 for his career. The clean sheet moved him past Jon Capon who recorded 28 from 1978-81 for West Virginia.
WVU (2-0-1) got on the board in the 18th minute on a ball sent into the box from the foot of midfielder Dan Stratford. The curling ball from Stratford found the head of Paul Cunningham waiting at the post and was directed back across the goal. A Bucknell defender was able to get is head on it but it was too late as the linesman alerted the referee that the ball crossed the line for a goal.
The goal was the first of Cunningham’s career. Both Mountaineer goals so far this season have been netted by upperclassmen who entered the season without a collegiate goal.
West Virginia applied constant pressure to Bucknell (0-1-1) all evening as it recorded 23 shots to the Bison’s 10. Seven of the Mountaineers’ shots were on goal, while just one of Bucknell’s was.
WVU’s three shutouts to start the season have only been matched by the 1998 Mountaineer team, which started out 3-0 on a trio of clean sheets.
Senior forward Jarrod Smith was reinstated to the team and started Tuesday’s match. The Havelock North, New Zealand, native tallied two shots on the evening.
The Mountaineers’ now focus their attention on Cal. State Northridge. The Matatdors come to town on Saturday, Sept. 2, for a noon kickoff at DDSS.
