Soccer: Five Televised Contests
July 22, 2008 02:59 PM | General
By Ira Green for MSNsportsNET.com
July 22, 2008
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| West Virginia PBS will broadcast five WVU soccer matches this fall.
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Success by West Virginia University’s men’s and women’s soccer programs in 2007 has warranted five total soccer matches, three men’s and two women’s, to be televised, West Virginia PBS announced on Monday.
"We are excited to build on our partnership between MSN and West Virginia Public Broadcasting," Mike Parsons, WVU’s deputy director of athletics, said. "Interest in our nationally ranked soccer programs has grown and it will be an opportunity for Mountaineer fans throughout the state to see these great teams in action against outstanding competition."
The first PBS broadcast is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 31, at 2 p.m., when the men’s soccer team hosts Duquesne at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown.
"We have, what I think, is one of the more competitive schedules in America," WVU men’s soccer Head Coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "We compete in one of the top soccer conferences in the country. Being on statewide television is a wonderful opportunity to highlight how our program has developed over the years."
In 2007, the men’s squad posted a 14-6-2 overall record, which included a 7-2-0 mark at home. The team reached the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST tournament, and after receiving a first-round bye in the NCAA tournament, went on to knock off Virginia, 1-0, in the second round. The squad then advanced to the Sweet 16, a feat the program had not matched since 1981.
Other men’s games slated to be televised are Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m., against Ohio State, and Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m., against Maryland. The Mountaineers will be at home for the two games as well.
The two women’s soccer broadcasts, both of which come at home, will be Sunday, Sept. 28, at 1 p.m., against Syracuse, and Sunday, Oct. 19, at 1 p.m., against Villanova.
"We are very excited that West Virginia PBS will be broadcasting some of our games this fall," WVU women’s Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown, said. "This is a great opportunity for a lot of fans that normally would not get a chance to see us play, to watch us on television. These games will also allow soccer fans to watch BIG EAST soccer, one of the best conferences in the country."
Izzo-Brown guided her squad to an 18-5-2 mark last season, with a 13-2-1 record at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. After capturing the BIG EAST Championship, the team marched on to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in program history.
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