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Mountaineers Host Rival Penn State Tuesday
October 12, 2015 02:34 PM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (October 12 2015) – The West Virginia University men’s soccer team hosts rival Penn State on Tuesday, October 13 at 7 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Tuesday marks the 30th meeting between the Mountaineers (5-6-0, 1-0-0 Mid-American Conference) and Nittany Lions (5-4-2, 2-2-1 Big Ten), the second-most played rivalry in program history. WVU is 7-20-2 vs. PSU, but West Virginia claimed a 2-1 road win last season and is undefeated in four of the last five meetings.
Tuesday’s contest is the final “Dollar Day” of the season, with all tickets and select concessions available for $1. Additionally, there will be a fireworks show at halftime. Tickets can be purchased at the DDSS ticket office or in advance at WVUGAME.com. Admission is free for WVU students with a valid ID.
Fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person can watch a live stream on WVUsports.com, presented by CityNet. DJ Jamiel and Caroline Szwed will be on the call. Live stats can be found at WVULiveStats.com, and updates will also be available on social media by following and connecting with @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
“This game obviously means a lot to me, with it being my alma mater and having been there,” WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. “I think we’ve had the better of the four or five times we’ve played them over the time that I’ve been here. Every game is a one-goal game, a tough game. It’s a hard game to play, and it’s a very good Penn State team that I’ve seen a lot of because I follow them.”
LeBlanc graduated from Penn State in 2000, and served as an assistant coach from 2001-05. He helped the Nittany Lions reach the NCAA Tournament in four of his five seasons, including the Elite Eight in 2002 and the Sweet 16 in 2001 and 2005.
When LeBlanc came to West Virginia in 2006, the WVU-PSU rivalry, which was dormant since 1990, was renewed. The Mountaineers own a 3-1-1 record against the Nittany Lions under LeBlanc, including a 2-1 win in State College, Pa., last season.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Penn State enters the week with a 5-4-2 record and a 2-2-1 mark in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions have lost three of their last four, but two of those came against ranked opponents, at No. 9 Akron and vs. No. 25 Maryland. Also against ranked foes, Penn State earned a 1-0 win vs. No. 10 Indiana on Sept. 13. The Nittany Lions have spent four weeks ranked in the NSCAA Top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 on Sept. 15.
The Nittany Lions are coached by Bob Warming, in his sixth year. He owns a 63-38-13 mark in State College and is 446-218-77 overall and has led Saint Louis and Creighton to the College Cup, in 1997 and 2002, respectively. At PSU, Warming won Big Ten titles in 2012 and 2013 and was named the league’s Coach of the Year both seasons.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE NITTANY LIONS
WVU is 7-20-2 vs. Penn State. In the Marlon LeBlanc era, WVU owns a 3-1-1 mark, with wins in 2006, ’07 and a 2-1 victory a season ago. West Virginia is 5-8-1 vs. PSU at home.
Last year, WVU earned a 2-1 win at Penn State, thanks to a pair of goals by Andy Bevin. PSU scored first in the 49th minute, but the Mountaineers answered in the 62nd minute and again in the 70th minute. West Virginia was out-shot, 14-11, but held a 3-2 edge in shots on goal in the comeback victory.
UP NEXT: AT BUFFALO
WVU is back on the road for a Mid-American Conference matchup with Buffalo on Friday, Oct. 16. The Mountaineers look to improve on a 6-0-1 record against the Bulls, including a 2-0 mark in New York.
LAST TIME OUT: WIN VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
A goal by senior Jamie Merriam in the 84th minute gave the West Virginia University men’s soccer team a 1-0 victory over Western Michigan in its Mid-American Conference opener on Friday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Mountaineers (5-6, 1-0 MAC) won a back-and-forth affair that saw both teams record 13 shots. WVU had seven shots on goal, while the Broncos had four shots on goal. Merriam’s goal, his fourth of the season, came at 83:24, the game winner. Sophomore Joey Piatczyc and freshman Tucker Stephenson earned assists, Piatczyc’s nation-leading 11th of the season.
Tuesday night...a rivalry game every #WVU fan loves! #WVUSoccer vs @PennStateMSOC 7:00PM $1 Night @WVUSports pic.twitter.com/tkAPK65Z8l
— West Virginia Soccer (@WVUMensSoccer) October 11, 2015
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