Men’s Soccer Travels to Akron
October 16, 2014 01:02 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men’s soccer team will travel to Akron for a Mid-American Conference match on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.
The game is the NSCAATV College Game of the Week and will be broadcast on NSCAA.tv. For a link to live stats, visit WVUsports.com. Fans can follow the action through social media by following @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter.
“We’re please about playing in the NSCAA Game of the Week for the second time this season,” coach Marlon LeBlanc said. “The MAC has proven to be one of the top seven or eight conferences in the country this year and this game should be one of the best of the season.”
The Mountaineers (6-5-1) opened MAC play last Saturday at Northern Illinois, playing to a 1-1 draw. Senior Andy Bevin gave WVU the 1-0 lead in the 38th minute, but WVU conceded a goal in the 46th minute to tie the match 1-1.
Bevin and junior Jamie Merriam are tied for the team lead with 16 points. Merriam has seven goals and two assists and Bevin has five goals and six assists. Junior Ryan Cain has four goals, while freshmen Joey Piatczyc and Louis Thomas have five assists apiece.
Senior goalkeeper Lee Johnston has made 19 saves in five starts, including a season-high five at Northern Illinois.
“Akron is a well-coached team and very organized as usual,” LeBlanc said. “It’s always a great atmosphere and it has proven to be a challenge to get a result.”
After beginning the season 0-2, Akron (7-4-1) is 7-2 in its last nine matches, including a 3-0 win over Michigan on Tuesday evening. Freshman Stuart Holthusen, freshman Anthony Macchione and sophomore Adam Najem all scored in the Zips victory.
Najem leads the team in goals (5), points (12), shots (24) and shots on goal (14). Holthusen has three goals, while senior Saad Abdul-Salaam and junior Sean Sepe have two goals apiece. Freshman Sam Gainford holds the team lead with three assists.
Junior goalkeeper Jake Fenlason has started all 12 matches in goal, allowing just nine goals for a 0.72 goals-against average. He leads the MAC in saves (53) and save percentage (.855).
WVU trails the all-time series 2-11-1 and has not won since 1972.
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