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WVU Faces Road Test at Virginia Tech on Tuesday
October 05, 2015 03:31 PM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men’s soccer team continues a string of three matches in seven days when it faces Virginia Tech on Tuesday, October 6 at 7 p.m. in Blacksburg, Va.
Fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person can watch a live stream on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. Live stats can be found at HokieSports.com, while updates will also be available on social media by following and connecting with @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
“We’re looking forward to facing another good opponent in a tough road environment,” WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. “Virginia Tech has played several ranked opponents very close this year, and we know they’ll be ready.”
Tuesday night’s match marks WVU’s final match before Mid-American Conference play begins. The Mountaineers return home to host Western Michigan Friday at 7:30 p.m.
WVU is among the conference and national leaders in several categories. The Mountaineers are first in the Mid-American Conference and No. 2 nationally with 2.56 assists per game and 7th nationally, first in the MAC with 6.78 points per game. West Virginia is No. 16 in the country and first in the conference with a 2.11 scoring offense. Additionally, the Mountaineers rank No. 5 in the nation with 23 total assists.
Individually, sophomore Joey Piatczyc continues to lead the nation in assists. He is averaging 1.11 assist per game and is also first with 10 total assists. Piatczyc’s 1.11 points per game also ranks No. 8 in the conference and his 10 total points is tied for ninth, along with teammate Ryan Cain.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
Virginia Tech owns a 4-4-1 record, including an 0-3-1 mark in ACC play. The Hokies are coming off a 2-0 loss at No. 5 Clemson on Oct. 2. Its fourth ranked opponent of the season, VT beat then-No. 10 Xavier, 3-1 on the road, in the season’s second weekend before a loss to No. 3 North Carolina and a 1-1 draw at No. 19 Louisville.
The Hokies are led by Mike Brizendine, in his seventh season. He owns a 40-71-17 record in Blacksburg after he spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE HOKIES
WVU is 4-7 all-time vs. the Hokies after a 3-0 win at home last season. The Mountaineers claimed the first matchup, 3-2 in 1963. Virginia Tech won the next two before WVU posted a 2-0 win in 1989. West Virginia also won a 4-1 match in 1994. In last year’s win in the second weekend of the season, Mike Desiderio, Jamie Merriam and Andy Bevin notched goals for the Mountaineers. Bevin notched a pair of assists, while Francio Henry had one.
UP NEXT: VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
WVU returns home to host Western Michigan on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The third match in seven days for the Mountaineers, it marks the beginning of Mid-American Conference play.
LAST TIME OUT: AT ST. FRANCIS (PA.)
WVU used a pair of highlight-reel goals and withstood two late scores to beat St. Francis (Pa.), 3-2, on a rainy, cold afternoon in Loretto, Pa. on Oct. 3. The Mountaineers became the first team this season to score on SFU’s home pitch as the Red Flash allowed more than two goals in a match for the first time this season. WVU’s goals came courtesy of Jamie Merriam, Jad Arslan and Tucker Stephenson. Joey Piatczyc assisted on the second two goals and now has a nation-best 10 assists on the year. In goal, freshman Alec Boerner had four saves to earn his second career victory.
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