Main-MSOCvsSaintMarys-093016.jpg
Four-Match Homestand Begins Saturday
September 30, 2016 11:39 AM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 15 West Virginia University men’s soccer team returns home to host Saint Mary’s (Calif.) on Saturday, October 1, at noon, ET.
Admission at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium will be free for all fans, courtesy of WVU Medicine. Additionally, fans can enter to win a WVU Nike swag bag. Free parking is available at the Natatorium/Band lot, adjacent to DDSS.
Fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person can 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.
The Mountaineers (6-1-1) are unbeaten in their last seven matches, having shut out the opposition in each contest. Junior goalkeeper Jose Santos, the reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, has not allowed a goal in more than 705 minutes, since the first half of WVU’s season-opening game against No. 9 Seattle.
The Gaels (2-5-3) are coming off back-to-back overtime matches, both on the road last weekend. After winning two-of-three at home, SMC lost at UC Davis, 2-1 in overtime before a 1-1 draw at Sacramento State. Saint Mary’s has played two ranked foes, posting a 2-2 draw at top-ranked Stanford in the season’s first week and falling at No. 10 UC Santa Barbara, 1-0.
Senior forward Felix Angerer and sophomore midfielder Tucker Stephenson lead the team with two goals each, while Angerer and junior midfielder Joey Piatczyc have notched a team-high-tying five points. Piatczyc and freshman defender Sebastian Garcia-Herroros have a team-high three assists, and Piatczyc and Stephenson’s 15 shots leads the squad.
Santos, who has made 20 saves, is No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference and No. 2 nationally in both save percentage (.909) and goals-against average (0.241).
Stephenson ranks No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference and No. 29 nationally with two game-winning goals. Garcia-Herreros’ 0.43 assists-per-game is fourth in the MAC.
SCOUTING SAINT MARY’S
Saint Mary’s comes to Morgantown with a 2-5-3 record and an 0-2-3 mark away from home. The Gaels are 2-2-1 in their last five matches, including a pair of overtime contests to begin the roadtrip. Last weekend, SMC lost at UC Davis in the first overtime and played to a 1-1 draw at Sacramento State in the first two matches of a seven-match roadtrip.
The Gaels are led by Adam Cooper, in his 11th season at the helm. The 1999 UCLA graduate owns an 86-81-38 mark at Saint Mary’s, and led the squad to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2011.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE GAELS
West Virginia and Saint Mary’s meet for the first time on Saturday. Against current West Coast Conference competition, the Mountaineers are 1-0-1, with a 6-0 victory over San Francisco a season ago and a 1-1 draw against Loyola Marymount in 2005.
UP NEXT: VS. BOWLING GREEN
Mid-American Conference action begins on Friday, October 7, at 7 p.m. ET when WVU hosts Bowling Green at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. WVU is 2-2-1 against BGSU in four seasons as conference foes, including 1-1 at home. It is WVU Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night, and the team will sign autographs following the match. Additionally, the first 400 fans will receive a free WVU pint glass, courtesy of Coca-Cola.
LAST TIME OUT: WINNING ON THE ROAD
September 24 - No. 24 WVU 1, UNCG 0
WVU recorded its record-setting seventh consecutive shutout in a 1-0 victory at UNCG on September 24 in Greensboro, N.C.
Junior goalkeeper Jose Santos made four saves and moved into a tie for No. 9 in program history with his seventh career shutout.
Junior midfielder Jad Arslan scored the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute, his first goal of the season and second game-winning goal of his career. Freshman defender Sebastian Garcia-Herreros and freshman defender Steven James earned assists. West Virginia improved to 4-0 in 1-0 contests and a perfect 6-0 when scoring at least one goal.
WVU had 11 shots, with Garcia-Herreros leading the team with three. The Mountaineers notched four shots on goal. UNCG recorded 10 shots, four on goal.
IN THE RANKINGS
For the fifth consecutive week, WVU is nationally ranked, and ranked in all four major polls for the first time this season.
West Virginia is ranked as high as No. 15, by Top Drawer Soccer, moving up nine spots from No. 24 last week. The Mountaineers are also No. 18 in the College Soccer News rankings and No. 17 in the NSCAA poll after receiving votes last week. WVU has been ranked by Soccer America each week of the regular season and comes in at No. 20 this week.
In the first NCAA RPI rankings, West Virginia is ranked No. 12.
SANTOS EARNS MAC HONOR
Junior goalkeeper Jose Santos was named the MAC Player of the Week on Sept. 27 after leading WVU to a school-record seven consecutive shutouts. It is his first career MAC weekly accolade and the first honoree for WVU this season.
Santos posted a pair of shutout wins last week. He made a career-best seven saves in WVU’s 3-0 win against American on Sept. 20, holding AU scoreless for the first time this season. He followed with a four-save outing at UNCG on Sept. 24.
Following his award, Santos ranked No. 1 in the country in both save percentage (.923) and goals-against average (0.215). WVU also led the nation in shutout percentage (0.88).
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: NCAA vs. St. John's Cinematic Recap
Sunday, November 23
MSOC: Sun Belt Quarterfinals vs. Old Dominion Cinematic Recap
Tuesday, November 11
MSOC: South Carolina Cinematic Recap
Thursday, November 06
The Mountain State Derby Cinematic Recap
Sunday, November 02
