Main-MSOCPrinceton-090216.jpg
No. 24 WVU Hosts Princeton in Home Opener
September 02, 2016 01:32 PM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Fresh off a top-10 upset victory on opening weekend, the West Virginia University men’s soccer team hosts Princeton in its home opener on Saturday, September 3, at 7 p.m. ET.
Admission at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium will be free for all fans, courtesy of WVU Medicine. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to pick up the official 2016 schedule poster, along with 2016 schedule cards. Free parking is available at the Natatorium/Band lot, adjacent to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Game Notes | Live Stats | Video Stream
Fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person can watch a free live stream, courtesy of CityNet, and follow live stats on WVUSports.com. Additional updates, news and notes will be available on social media by following and connecting with @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.“We’re very lucky to have the fans that we have, and the support that we have, here at WVU,” coach Marlon LeBlanc said. “We’re looking forward to playing at home on Saturday in front of our own fans, and hopefully putting on a good show.”
Saturday’s contest is the second between the two schools, after Princeton earned a 3-2 home win in double overtime a season ago.
The Mountaineers (1-1) are coming off an opening-weekend split against a pair of top-10 teams in Akron, Ohio. WVU opened the season with a 2-0 loss to No. 9 Seattle before a 1-0 upset victory against No. 7 Georgetown. Sophomore Tucker Stephenson, who scored the game-winning goal against the Hoyas, was joined by senior Jack Elliott and junior Jad Arslan on the Akron Classic All-Tournament Team.
Princeton has yet to play a match this fall. The Tigers are coming off a 10-5-2 season in 2015, where they posted a 4-3-1 record away from home. PU won its last three matches and five of its last six to close out the season.
SCOUTING PRINCETON
Princeton, who has not played a match this season, posted a 10-5-2 record and a 3-3-1 Ivy League mark a season ago. The Tigers have to replace five starters from last year, including Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year Thomas Sanner.
Jim Barlow begins his 21st season at the helm of his alma mater, where he played from 1987-90. He has led the Tigers to four Ivy League titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances in his tenure. Barlow owns a record of 155-138-50 at PU.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE TIGERS
Saturday marks the second meeting between WVU and PU after the squads met for the first time last season in Princeton, New Jersey. In a double-overtime affair, Princeton won, 3-2 at Roberts Stadium. Then-senior Ryan Cain and then-junior Mike Desiderio scored for the Mountaineers. Cain’s goal came on a penalty kick, while Desiderio was assisted by Haydon Bennett and Ivo Cabral.
LAST TIME OUT: UPSET WIN IN OHIO
WVU opened the season at the Akron Classic in Akron, Ohio. After falling to No. 9 Seattle in the season opener, West Virginia earned a 1-0 upset victory against No. 7 Georgetown on Sunday.
It was the highest-ranked team West Virginia had beaten since taking down No. 1 UConn at home in 2011. The win was WVU’s first against a top-10 foe since the Mountaineers won at No. 8 Indiana in 2013 and the first neutral-site ranked win since 2011 against No. 11 Virginia.
Sophomore midfielder Tucker Stephenson scored in the 81st minute to break a scoreless tie after the Mountaineers played right with the Hoyas for the first 80 minutes. Stephenson notched his first goal of the season, with junior defender Louis Thomas and freshman defender Sebastian Garcia-Herreros recording assists. It was Stephenson’s third career goal, all game-winning tallies, while it was the first assist of Garcia-Herreros’ collegiate career.
The Mountaineer defense held the Hoyas to just three shots, none on goal. It marked the seventh time in program history West Virginia allowed no shots on goal and the 20th time an opposing team had three or fewer shots against WVU.
Stephenson, along with senior defender Jack Elliott and junior midfielder Jad Arslan were named to the Akron Classic All-Tournament Team.
IN THE RANKINGS
A 1-1 weekend against a pair of top-10 opponents has elevated West Virginia into the national rankings. The Mountaineers are ranked No. 24 in the Soccer America Men’s Top 25 poll.
UP NEXT: VS. ETSU
The homestand continues on Friday, Sept. 9, as the Mountaineers host ETSU at 7 p.m. ET. The True Blue match will feature a foam finger giveaway, and all fans are encouraged to wear their favorite WVU blue gear to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. For fans unable to attend the match, a free live stream, courtesy of CityNet, and live stats can be found on WVUSports.com.
WVU Soccer Scarf ticket packages are now on sale and includes the official 2016 WVU Soccer fan scarf and 10 tickets to be used at any men’s or women’s home matches during the regular season. Packages are just $30 and are available while supplies last. To order, visit WVUGAME.com or call 1-800-WVU GAME. More information is available on WVUSports.com.
Additionally, single-game tickets for all nine regular-season home matches are now on sale at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800-WVU-GAME.
MSOC: ODU Cinematic Recap
Thursday, October 23
Dan Stratford | Oct. 21, 2025
Tuesday, October 21
Dan Stratford | Oct. 1, 2025
Wednesday, October 01
Dan Stratford | Sept. 8
Monday, September 08
