Men's Soccer: Concludes Regular Season
October 31, 2008 02:53 PM | General
By Ira Green for MSNsportsNET.com
October 31, 2008
Game Notes
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men’s soccer team concludes the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 1, against BIG EAST Blue Division leader, No. 19, Notre Dame. Kickoff at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday’s match serves as the final regular-season contest for five seniors: Sean Brooks, Ryan Chance, Donald La Guerre, Tony Lindroos, and Yost.
The match against the Fighting Irish has been designated “Dollar Night” with all tickets and select concessions available for purchase for one dollar apiece. The Mountaineers also will feature Chick-fil-A Coloring Sheet Night. All children ages 13 and younger will gain free admission with a completed coloring sheet courtesy of Chick-fil-A at the Morgantown Mall.
WVU (5-7-5, 3-3-4 BIG EAST) is coming off a 2-0 win against league-rival Marquette on Oct. 29 at home. Sophomore Dan Hagey scored the first goal of the game, his first of the season, at the 15:48 mark on a cross from junior Ryan Gillespie. With less than 10 minutes left in regulation, senior Alex Yost added an insurance goal. The play, which started by freshman Alex Silva, saw Gillespie send a high cross into the box and the 6-foot-3 Yost head it past Marquette’s goalkeeper. Silva and Gillespie each recorded an assist on the play.
Offensively, the Mountaineers have received goals from six different players. With Yost’s second goal of the season, he became one of four players to tally two scores in 2008. Sophomore Paul Paradise leads the team in assists (3), points (7) and shots (37).
Another strong performer for WVU this year has been sophomore Zach Johnson. Playing all 17 contests and 1,634 minutes between the posts, Johnson has stopped 78 shots while recording eight clean sheets and allowing just 10 goals. The Lumberton, N.J., native boasts a 0.55 goals-against average and owns a .886 save percentage, good enough for 12th and eighth in the nation, respectively.
Notre Dame (10-5-2, 6-2-2 BE), who has already earned a BIG EAST Championship berth, also played on Oct. 29 and defeated No. 23 Georgetown, 2-1, at home. Jeb Brovsky scored both goals for the Fighting Irish, while Bright Dike and Jack Traynor tallied assists. Andrew Quinn and Philip Tuttle spent time in goal, with Quinn allowing the only Georgetown score.
Offensively, 11 Notre Dame players have scored at least one goal this season. Dike leads the team and league with 10 goals and 25 points. Michael Thomas is not far behind with eight goals, including one game-winner. The Fighting Irish are outscoring their opponents, 37-19, this season, and also own the advantage in corner kicks, 104-68.
Notre Dame’s Quinn has seen a majority of time between the posts, playing in 16 games. He has stopped 56 shots and owns a 0.99 goals-against average after allowing 16 goals in 1,448 minutes.
The Fighting Irish are under the direction of Head Coach Bobby Clark. In his eighth season with the program and 22nd year in the collegiate ranks, he holds a 104-43-22 record.
The team returned seven starters from last year’s squad, including all-conference honorees, Matt Besler, Jack Traynor and Matt Armstrong. Notre Dame finished 2007 with a 14-5-5 overall mark, going 7-0-4 in league play. Despite falling in the BIG EAST Championship to Connecticut, 2-1, the team advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals, ultimately losing to the eventual national champion Wake Forest, 1-0, in overtime.
WVU is 2-2-1 in its last five meetings with Notre Dame.
