Friday, August 24
Charleston, S.C.
7:30 p.m.
West Virginia University
1-0-0
2
at
0
College of Charleston
0-1-0
1
2
F
WVU
0
2
2
Charleston
0
0
0
Second-Half Goals Propel Mountaineers in Opener
August 24, 2018 10:42 PM | Men's Soccer
CHARLESTON, S.C. – A pair of goals in the second half led the West Virginia University men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory in its season opener at the College of Charleston on Friday night.
In front of a lively crowd of 1,781 at the Soccer Stadium at Patriots Point, the Mountaineers (1-0) won their season-opening game for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. WVU benefited from goals by senior midfielder Joey Piatczyc in the 51st minute and junior midfielder Ethan Shim in the 72nd to down the Cougars (0-1).
Shim's goal was the first of his career, while Piatczyc also earned an assist on the goal. The assist gives him 26 in his career, the second-most in program history and one shy of tying the program record of 27, set by Dan Stratford from 2004-07.
"It was a good performance for our guys against a very good Charleston team in front of a massive crowd," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "We showed up tonight, and that was the difference. Eleven guys played hard, and for us to find two goals on the road and get a shutout in front of that big of a crowd and that good of a team was a positive.
Piatczyc opened the scoring at 50:17 with his fifth career goal. He gave the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead on a free kick from 22 yards out that hit the top left post and bounced in.
The Mountaineers made it 2-0 at 71:23, thanks to Shim's header on a ball in by Piatczyc. The senior captain crossed the ball in from the right side just inside the box, and found Shim inside the six.
"Joey Piatczyc is a big-time player," LeBlanc added. "A goal and an assist in his first game in over a year shows what we were missing last year, but it shows you how good the kid is and what we have in our time this year. At the end of the day, he's our engine, he's our captain, and I think he proved that tonight."
Additionally, sophomore goalkeeper Steven Tekesky made two saves in the win.
West Virginia out-shot the College of Charleston, 9-7, and had a 3-2 edge in shots on goal and a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Shim recorded WVU's first shot, a header in the sixth minute that was saved. Less than a minute later, a CofC shot was blocked by the Mountaineer defense.
The Mountaineers had a chance in the 17th minute off a corner kick, but the long ball in from the far side outside the box was grabbed by the Charleston keeper. In the 21st minute, junior defender Pascal Derwaritsch had a header go high off of a Piatczyc corner kick.
Two minutes later, Tekesky made his first save of the day on a long ball in to the near post.
West Virginia had an opportunity in the 29th minute on a ball that was loose inside the box, but the Cougar goalkeeper dove to save the ball just before it crossed the line.
With five minutes remaining in the half, a great tackle by a WVU defender at the edge of the box poked the ball out and prevented a chance on net for Charleston. That ensured a scoreless contest heading into halftime.
Both teams had three shots in the first 45 minutes and one shot on goal.
Piatczyc's goal opened the second half, as he found the back of the net at 50:17. The Mountaineers continued to apply pressure following his score, and junior defender Albert Andres-Llop sent a shot high in the 55th minute.
Five minutes later, Andres-Llop had another chance, which was blocked, and junior Andres Muriel Albino followed with a shot high. Prior to Shim's goal in the 72nd minute, he had a shot go wide in the 70th.
The Cougars had a shot blocked in the 74th minute, and Tekesky made a nice save in the 76th. That proved to be CofC's last shot of the contest, as the WVU defense prevented the home side from an opportunity to find the net.
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. Live stats will be available at Charleston.Statbroadcast.com. Links to the 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.
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.
In front of a lively crowd of 1,781 at the Soccer Stadium at Patriots Point, the Mountaineers (1-0) won their season-opening game for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. WVU benefited from goals by senior midfielder Joey Piatczyc in the 51st minute and junior midfielder Ethan Shim in the 72nd to down the Cougars (0-1).
Shim's goal was the first of his career, while Piatczyc also earned an assist on the goal. The assist gives him 26 in his career, the second-most in program history and one shy of tying the program record of 27, set by Dan Stratford from 2004-07.
"It was a good performance for our guys against a very good Charleston team in front of a massive crowd," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "We showed up tonight, and that was the difference. Eleven guys played hard, and for us to find two goals on the road and get a shutout in front of that big of a crowd and that good of a team was a positive.
Piatczyc opened the scoring at 50:17 with his fifth career goal. He gave the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead on a free kick from 22 yards out that hit the top left post and bounced in.
The Mountaineers made it 2-0 at 71:23, thanks to Shim's header on a ball in by Piatczyc. The senior captain crossed the ball in from the right side just inside the box, and found Shim inside the six.
"Joey Piatczyc is a big-time player," LeBlanc added. "A goal and an assist in his first game in over a year shows what we were missing last year, but it shows you how good the kid is and what we have in our time this year. At the end of the day, he's our engine, he's our captain, and I think he proved that tonight."
Additionally, sophomore goalkeeper Steven Tekesky made two saves in the win.
West Virginia out-shot the College of Charleston, 9-7, and had a 3-2 edge in shots on goal and a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Shim recorded WVU's first shot, a header in the sixth minute that was saved. Less than a minute later, a CofC shot was blocked by the Mountaineer defense.
The Mountaineers had a chance in the 17th minute off a corner kick, but the long ball in from the far side outside the box was grabbed by the Charleston keeper. In the 21st minute, junior defender Pascal Derwaritsch had a header go high off of a Piatczyc corner kick.
Two minutes later, Tekesky made his first save of the day on a long ball in to the near post.
West Virginia had an opportunity in the 29th minute on a ball that was loose inside the box, but the Cougar goalkeeper dove to save the ball just before it crossed the line.
With five minutes remaining in the half, a great tackle by a WVU defender at the edge of the box poked the ball out and prevented a chance on net for Charleston. That ensured a scoreless contest heading into halftime.
Both teams had three shots in the first 45 minutes and one shot on goal.
Piatczyc's goal opened the second half, as he found the back of the net at 50:17. The Mountaineers continued to apply pressure following his score, and junior defender Albert Andres-Llop sent a shot high in the 55th minute.
Five minutes later, Andres-Llop had another chance, which was blocked, and junior Andres Muriel Albino followed with a shot high. Prior to Shim's goal in the 72nd minute, he had a shot go wide in the 70th.
The Cougars had a shot blocked in the 74th minute, and Tekesky made a nice save in the 76th. That proved to be CofC's last shot of the contest, as the WVU defense prevented the home side from an opportunity to find the net.
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. Live stats will be available at Charleston.Statbroadcast.com. Links to the 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.
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.
Team Stats
WVU
COFC
Goals
2
0
Shots
9
7
Shots on Goal
3
2
Saves
2
1
Corners
6
2
Fouls
9
16
Scoring Plays
Joey Piatczyc (1)
Free kick, 22 yards out, hit top left po
50:17
Ethan Shim (1)
Assisted By: Joey Piatczyc
Cross from right by 15, header by 16, to
71:23
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
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