Men's Soccer: WVU Downs Lafayette
October 31, 2007 10:53 PM | General
October 31, 2007
BOX SCORE
LAFAYETTE, Pa. – Senior Reed Cooper scored his first goal of the season to lead the No. 20/19 West Virginia University men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over Lafayette this evening in Easton, Pa. The win marks Head Coach Marlon LeBlanc’s 30th career win, his 26th at WVU. The Mountaineers now hold an 11-5-1 overall record on the season.
Cooper’s goal came in the second half in the 60th minute off of a corner kick. The corner kick, taken by senior Dan Stratford, was headed out wide by sophomore Jason Bristol. Andy Wright curved the wide ball back in front of the net and Cooper shot a hard low ball to put the Mountaineers on the board.
The Leopards came out firing in the first 10 minutes of the match, getting two quick shots off. Chip Aronica shot a center ball but it was found by WVU’s Zach Johnson who made his first save of the night.
The Mountaineers got three shots off, and had a single corner kick in the first half, while Johnson made two saves. WVU’s best chance came when senior Sean Brooks fired a shot with 13 minutes left just outside the penalty box. Lafayette goalkeeper Andrew Pianko stopped the ball to end the first half in a 0-0 knot.
Just one minute into the second half, Wright blasted a powerful shot which hit the Leopard’s cross bar. From then on, the Mountaineers dominated the Leopards recording eight shots to four in the second half. Cooper’s goal sparked another offensive push and the Mountaineers closed the match with 11 shots to Lafayette’s eight.
The WVU defense showed its vigor once again, holding Lafayette scoreless. The defense has allowed just 18 shots in three matches, and just six goals on the season. Johnson recorded his 10th shutout of the year.
The match was tape-delayed and will air on CSTV on Friday, Nov. 2, at 10:30 p.m.
Next up, the Mountaineers will return home to face BIG EAST foe Providence in the final regular season match. The squad’s seven seniors will be honored prior to kick off.
