Arslan’s Goal Propels WVU in Season Opener

Friday, August 25

Berkeley, Calif.

7:30 p.m.

West Virginia University

1-0-0

California

0-1-0

WVU

CAL

Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks

August 25, 2017 10:35 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Charlie Healy

BERKELEY, Calif. – The West Virginia University men's soccer team opened the 2017 season with a 1-0 win at Cal on Friday afternoon at Edwards Stadium in Berkeley, California.

Senior midfielder Jad Arslan scored the game-winning goal in the 20th minute and redshirt junior Stephen Banick made four saves to earn the shutout in his career debut.

Arslan's goal, the 12th of his career, came at 19:06. On a ball in from freshman Jorge Quintanilla, junior Rushawn Larmond dribbled into the box and sent the ball to the far side, just before reaching the oncoming Cal keeper. Sprinting in, Arslan slid and poked the ball in from inside the six.

The goal was the fourth game-winner of Arslan's career. Larmond earned his second career assist, while Quintanilla registered the first point of his career.

The Mountaineers (1-0) had three shots to Cal's 14, while WVU had two shots and Cal had four. In the second half, the Golden Bears (0-1) had 11 shots and three shots on goal. All three of WVU's shots came in the first half.

The game's first chance came in the fifth minute, when WVU blocked a Cal shot from outside the box. Larmond followed with a shot in the 12th minute off a throw-in, but it went high.

After Arslan's goal in the 20th minute, the Mountaineers had another chance in the 28th, but Arslan's cross from the near side inside the box was blocked away.

Banick recorded his first career save in the 40th minute, when he stopped a clear shot that was sailing towards the top of the net.

Cal opened the second half with several chances in the opening 10 minutes. Cal's first shot hit the post, and the next off a corner kick was saved by Banick. After the WVU defense cleared the next two chances, a foul just outside of the box gave the Golden Bears another opportunity to even the score.

However, the Mountaineer defense prevented Cal from getting a good look at the goal and a shot from the far side near the post sailed across the goal and wide.

The home side had a chance to equalize the match in the 64th minute, but a block by the West Virginia defense inside the 18 kept the 1- lead intact. Three minutes later, Banick recorded his third save of the match on a header off a corner kick from six yards out on the far side.

The Mountaineers' best chance in the second half came in the 73rd minute, when a cross in from the far side was cleared out by a header in front of the goal. Cal followed on its ensuing possession with a shot that sailed high.

With five minutes remaining, a Cal cross skirted off the crossbar, and Banick followed with a great save in the 89th minute on a long shot to preserve the win.

The Mountaineers' California roadtrip continues at face Santa Clara on Sunday night at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

Video of Jad Arslan's game-winning goal through some beautiful passing from Quintanilla & Larmond. #WVUSoccer @WVUSports pic.twitter.com/2f3aFlii0A
— West Virginia Soccer (@WVUMensSoccer) August 26, 2017

WVU Soccer Scarf ticket packages are now on sale, which includes the official 2017 WVU soccer scarf and 10 tickets to be used at any men's or women's soccer match during the 2017 regular season. Packages are just $30 and are available while supplies last. To order, visit WVUGAME.com or call 1-800-WVU GAME.

Additionally, single game tickets for all 10 of WVU's regular-season home matches are now on sale at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800-WVU GAME. The complete 2017 WVU men's soccer schedule, with match times, can be found here. All dates and times are subject to change, and fans are encouraged to stay tuned to WVUSports.com for updates.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.