Men's Soccer: No. 25 WVU Travels to Pitt
October 05, 2009 02:21 PM | General
October 5, 2009
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| Coach Marlon LeBlanc |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – With just a two-day resting period, the No. 25-ranked West Virginia University men’s soccer team will resume action with a match on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at league foe Pitt. Kickoff at Founders Field is set for 7 p.m.
“Pitt is a dangerous team,” coach Marlon LeBlanc says. “Whenever Pitt and West Virginia play, you throw out records, history and coaching because it is truly a year-by-year, game-by-game thing in any sport. Certainly, they're an older, more mature team, as most teams that we play are. I think it's going to be a tough challenge going on the road at a tough environment and a tough place to play. We're going there with the hopes of picking up points.”
The Mountaineers are riding a four-match winning streak after defeating Marquette, 1-0, on Oct. 3. Senior Jason Bristol tallied the lone goal of the game in the 74th minute. The Mountaineers out-shot the Golden Eagles, 12-9, and held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
WVU is tied with Connecticut atop the BIG EAST Blue Division standings, as both hold identical records (5-2-2, 4-1-0 BE) and 12 points apiece.
Offensively, the Mountaineers are out-shooting opponents, 94-70, and winning the battle in corner kicks, 52-43.
Sophomore Alex Silva leads the team with two goals, but six other Mountaineers have tallied a goal apiece this season. Freshman Abel “Shadow” Sebele is tied for the team lead in points (5).
In between the posts, redshirt junior Zach Johnson has started all nine matches, allowing just six goals and making 24 saves. He owns five clean sheets this season.
Pitt enters the match with a 1-9-0 overall record and a 0-5-0 mark in BIG EAST play. Their last time out, the Panthers dropped a 3-0 decision at home against Providence. Four different Panthers finished with two shots apiece, and Keegan Gunderson and Zack Matthews split time in goal.
Offensively, Mike McDade leads the Panthers with three goals for six points. Terry Boland and Matt Baker lead the team in shots with 15 apiece.
Defensively, Pitt has been outscored by its opponents, 21-7, and is being out-shot, 170-102. Gunderson has started seven of the team’s 10 matches, allowing 12 goals in 540 minutes and making 34 saves.
Pitt is under the direction of Joe Luxbacher, who enters his 26th season and holds a 194-203-50 record with the Panthers. Last year, the squad finished with a 7-8-3 overall mark, including a 3-6-2 record in league action.
Please follow the detour directions from Rt. 28 to Founders Field below:
1. From Pittsburgh and West take Rt. 28 North.
2. Take the exit for Route 8 Etna- it bears off to the left.
3. At or about the third light, look for Saxonburg Blvd. and turn right.
4. Take Saxonburg Blvd – it is long winding road – cross over Hart’s Run Road.
5. Turn right on Route 910 East (Indianola).
6. Bear left at Cove Run Road (Ice Cream place on your left) – that will take you to the field.
