Friday, August 24
Charleston, S.C.
7:30 p.m.
West Virginia University
at
College of Charleston
Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
New Campaign Begins Friday Night
August 23, 2018 03:45 PM | Men's Soccer
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The 58th season of West Virginia University men's soccer commences this weekend at the Aaron Oltsky Memorial Soccer Classic in Charleston, South Carolina.
The season-opener is set for Friday, Aug. 24, at the College of Charleston, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET, at the Soccer Stadium at Patriots Point. WVU will face UNC Wilmington on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m., in a neutral-site contest to close out the weekend.
Friday night's season opener marks the first time the Mountaineers and Cougars have squared off.
"We're just looking to get off on the right foot," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "We have two tough opponents in Charleston and UNC Wilmington, and the idea is we're going down there to try and find wins. Charleston is on the road and it's their home opener, so obviously there's going to be a heavy emotional side to that for them. It's a beautiful stadium and beautiful soccer following down there. Traditionally, Charleston has been a fantastic program and well-coached, Ralph Lundy has been at it for decades, and he's one of the best in the business."
Fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person can watch a live stream at CofCSports.com and follow live stats at Charleston.Statbroadcast.com. Links to the live stream and live stats can be found on the men's soccer schedule page on WVUSports.com. Additional updates, news and notes from Charleston will be available on social media by following and connecting with @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
West Virginia has had success in LeBlanc's first 12 seasons on opening weekend, owning a 14-7-3 mark. The Mountaineers are 9-2-1 in the season's first two games since 2012, including a 2-0 record to begin the 2017 season in California.
WVU returns 16 lettermen to the pitch this year, including nine who played in at least 15 matches in 2017. The 25-man roster features four seniors – goalkeeper Stephen Banick, forward Rushawn Larmond and midfielders Joey Piatczyc and Jorge Quintanilla – along with six juniors, seven sophomores and eight newcomers – five freshmen and three transfers.
Seventy percent of last year's starts return, including every start in goal and nine of the 12 players who started at least 10 matches. That does not include Piatczyc, a two-time All-MAC Team honoree, who is back on the pitch after missing the 2017 season with an injury.
Along with the four seniors, the returners include juniors Ryan Kellogg, a 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honoree and Pascal Derwaritsch, who was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Tournament Team a year ago, and junior Sebastian Garcia-Herreros, a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete last season.
SCOUTING COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
College of Charleston is coming off an 8-6-4 season in 2017, and went 3-1-4 in Colonial Athletic Association play. The team's 2017 campaign concluded with a 2-1 loss to UNC Wilmington in the CAA Tournament semifinals.
Ralph Lundy enters his 32nd year as head coach of the Cougars, and has compiled a 316-255-49 record at C of C. He ranks in the top-25 all-time among Division I coaches in total wins and is currently fourth among active coaches.
Notable returners for the Cougars in 2018 include sophomore Jake Nicholson and junior Tucker Heffron, both of whom finished with nine points in 2017.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE COUGARS
Friday marks the first-ever meeting between WVU and C of C. The Mountaineers are 9-14-3 against current members of the CAA, including a 6-2 win over James Madison in 2015. West Virginia also sports a 1-0-1 all-time record against CAA opponent UNC Wilmington, Sunday's foe in Charleston.
UP NEXT: SUNDAY VS. UNCW
The Mountaineers wrap up their weekend in Charleston with a neutral-site matchup against UNC Wilmington on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. ET. Following Sunday's contest, WVU returns home to face American on Friday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
WVU soccer scarf ticket packages and single match tickets are on sale now at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800 WVU GAME. The scarf ticket package includes a scarf and 10 tickets to be used at any men's or women's soccer match during the 2018 regular season. Packages are just $30 and are available while supplies last. Single match tickets are $5 each, while tickets are $3 for groups of 10 or more. At the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium ticket window, tickets will be $7 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors and $3 for groups. The discounted online pricing will be available until kickoff on game day. Tickets for WVU students are free with a valid student I.D.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The season-opener is set for Friday, Aug. 24, at the College of Charleston, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET, at the Soccer Stadium at Patriots Point. WVU will face UNC Wilmington on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m., in a neutral-site contest to close out the weekend.
Friday night's season opener marks the first time the Mountaineers and Cougars have squared off.
"We're just looking to get off on the right foot," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "We have two tough opponents in Charleston and UNC Wilmington, and the idea is we're going down there to try and find wins. Charleston is on the road and it's their home opener, so obviously there's going to be a heavy emotional side to that for them. It's a beautiful stadium and beautiful soccer following down there. Traditionally, Charleston has been a fantastic program and well-coached, Ralph Lundy has been at it for decades, and he's one of the best in the business."
Fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person can watch a live stream at CofCSports.com and follow live stats at Charleston.Statbroadcast.com. Links to the live stream and live stats can be found on the men's soccer schedule page on WVUSports.com. Additional updates, news and notes from Charleston will be available on social media by following and connecting with @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
West Virginia has had success in LeBlanc's first 12 seasons on opening weekend, owning a 14-7-3 mark. The Mountaineers are 9-2-1 in the season's first two games since 2012, including a 2-0 record to begin the 2017 season in California.
WVU returns 16 lettermen to the pitch this year, including nine who played in at least 15 matches in 2017. The 25-man roster features four seniors – goalkeeper Stephen Banick, forward Rushawn Larmond and midfielders Joey Piatczyc and Jorge Quintanilla – along with six juniors, seven sophomores and eight newcomers – five freshmen and three transfers.
Seventy percent of last year's starts return, including every start in goal and nine of the 12 players who started at least 10 matches. That does not include Piatczyc, a two-time All-MAC Team honoree, who is back on the pitch after missing the 2017 season with an injury.
Along with the four seniors, the returners include juniors Ryan Kellogg, a 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honoree and Pascal Derwaritsch, who was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Tournament Team a year ago, and junior Sebastian Garcia-Herreros, a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete last season.
SCOUTING COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
College of Charleston is coming off an 8-6-4 season in 2017, and went 3-1-4 in Colonial Athletic Association play. The team's 2017 campaign concluded with a 2-1 loss to UNC Wilmington in the CAA Tournament semifinals.
Ralph Lundy enters his 32nd year as head coach of the Cougars, and has compiled a 316-255-49 record at C of C. He ranks in the top-25 all-time among Division I coaches in total wins and is currently fourth among active coaches.
Notable returners for the Cougars in 2018 include sophomore Jake Nicholson and junior Tucker Heffron, both of whom finished with nine points in 2017.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE COUGARS
Friday marks the first-ever meeting between WVU and C of C. The Mountaineers are 9-14-3 against current members of the CAA, including a 6-2 win over James Madison in 2015. West Virginia also sports a 1-0-1 all-time record against CAA opponent UNC Wilmington, Sunday's foe in Charleston.
UP NEXT: SUNDAY VS. UNCW
The Mountaineers wrap up their weekend in Charleston with a neutral-site matchup against UNC Wilmington on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. ET. Following Sunday's contest, WVU returns home to face American on Friday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
WVU soccer scarf ticket packages and single match tickets are on sale now at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800 WVU GAME. The scarf ticket package includes a scarf and 10 tickets to be used at any men's or women's soccer match during the 2018 regular season. Packages are just $30 and are available while supplies last. Single match tickets are $5 each, while tickets are $3 for groups of 10 or more. At the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium ticket window, tickets will be $7 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors and $3 for groups. The discounted online pricing will be available until kickoff on game day. Tickets for WVU students are free with a valid student I.D.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerMSOC: 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
