Friday, September 7
Orlando, FL
7:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
2-2
0
at
1
UCF
3-1-1
1
2
F
West Virginia
0
0
0
UCF
0
1
1
Tekesky Makes 10 Saves in 1-0 Loss
September 07, 2018 10:26 PM | Men's Soccer
ORLANDO, Fla. – Sophomore goalkeeper Steven Tekesky made a career-best 10 saves for the West Virginia University men's soccer team in a 1-0 loss at UCF on Friday night.
On a muggy night in Orlando, Florida, the Mountaineers (2-2) were out-shot 11-2 in the first half, but Tekesky stopped all seven shots that came on goal. The Knights (3-1-1) opened the second half with a goal in the 48th minute that proved to be the difference in the contest.
Tekesky's 10 saves are tied for the eighth-most in a single match in program history. He is the first Mountaineer goalkeeper to post double-digit saves since Alec Boerner was credited with 11 in 2015, at Princeton.
"We didn't start the game well, that is something we have to get better at," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "We were on our back foot the first 45 minutes of the match. We came out of halftime and conceded too easy of a goal, but actually played really well in the second half. UCF is a good team, on the evening they deserved the victory. We have some things we need to clean up, including the start of our match and the quality of our final third. We had a lot of possession in the final third that didn't matriculate into anything because we gave the ball away too easily. We let them counter, so we have to be better in the final third."
UCF had 18 shots to WVU's five, while the home side held an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal. In the second half, West Virginia had three shots and held UCF to seven.
Junior defender Pascal Derwaritsch led the team with two shots, and senior midfielder Joey Piatczyc, sophomore defender Kevin Morris and sophomore forward Tsubasa Takada all had one shot, which came on goal.
Tekesky made three stops early for the Mountaineers in a two-minute span, beginning in the eighth minute. His first save came when he intercepted a UCF attacker as he entered the box. The second came near the post on a ball in from near the end line at a tight angle. His third save occurred on a long ball in from outside the corner of the box.
After Tekesky made two more stops, Piatczyc sent a long ball in, but it was saved in the 13th minute.
Takada took the Mountaineers' first corner in the 23rd minute, and while his ball in was quickly sent out, it was the first of three chances for WVU. Then, a cross in was intercepted by the UCF defense, and Piatczyc followed with West Virginia's next corner. However, his corner kick into the six was punched out by the Knight's keeper.
Tekesky made a nice stop on a breakaway in the 31st minute for his sixth save of the game, and he was credited with his seventh save when he stopped a ball in in the 39th minute. The stop came after a UCF attacker hit the post and an ensuing header went high.
UCF held an 11-2 advantage in shots, and a 7-2 lead in shots on goal in the opening half. Tekesky made a career-best seven saves in the half to help keep it a scoreless first half.
The second half opened with the lone goal of the match. It was scored by Cal Jennings and assisted by Barry Hattabiou. After receiving a long ball, Hattabiou beat a defender, went down the left side and crossed in to Jennings. In the match, Jennings had eight shots, six on goal.
Following the goal, the Mountaineers had several possessions in the final third, but could not get a shot off until junior defender Pascal Derwaritsch had a shot blocked from the edge of the box in the 82nd minute.
Tekesky followed with a pair of saves, and the defense forced another shot go high off a corner kick.
In the final three minutes, Tekesky stopped his 10th shot of the night, forcing a corner kick, in the 88th minute.
Morris had West Virginia's last chance in the 90th minute, but his shot was saved.
The Mountaineers face Maryland on Monday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. ET, in College Park, Maryland. WVU then returns home to host St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Tickets are available at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800 WVU GAME.
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. With the exception of Dollar Nights, single match tickets are $5 each and $3 for groups of 10 or more when purchased in advance at WVUGAME.com. 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 of the match. 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.
On a muggy night in Orlando, Florida, the Mountaineers (2-2) were out-shot 11-2 in the first half, but Tekesky stopped all seven shots that came on goal. The Knights (3-1-1) opened the second half with a goal in the 48th minute that proved to be the difference in the contest.
Tekesky's 10 saves are tied for the eighth-most in a single match in program history. He is the first Mountaineer goalkeeper to post double-digit saves since Alec Boerner was credited with 11 in 2015, at Princeton.
"We didn't start the game well, that is something we have to get better at," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "We were on our back foot the first 45 minutes of the match. We came out of halftime and conceded too easy of a goal, but actually played really well in the second half. UCF is a good team, on the evening they deserved the victory. We have some things we need to clean up, including the start of our match and the quality of our final third. We had a lot of possession in the final third that didn't matriculate into anything because we gave the ball away too easily. We let them counter, so we have to be better in the final third."
UCF had 18 shots to WVU's five, while the home side held an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal. In the second half, West Virginia had three shots and held UCF to seven.
Junior defender Pascal Derwaritsch led the team with two shots, and senior midfielder Joey Piatczyc, sophomore defender Kevin Morris and sophomore forward Tsubasa Takada all had one shot, which came on goal.
Tekesky made three stops early for the Mountaineers in a two-minute span, beginning in the eighth minute. His first save came when he intercepted a UCF attacker as he entered the box. The second came near the post on a ball in from near the end line at a tight angle. His third save occurred on a long ball in from outside the corner of the box.
After Tekesky made two more stops, Piatczyc sent a long ball in, but it was saved in the 13th minute.
Takada took the Mountaineers' first corner in the 23rd minute, and while his ball in was quickly sent out, it was the first of three chances for WVU. Then, a cross in was intercepted by the UCF defense, and Piatczyc followed with West Virginia's next corner. However, his corner kick into the six was punched out by the Knight's keeper.
Tekesky made a nice stop on a breakaway in the 31st minute for his sixth save of the game, and he was credited with his seventh save when he stopped a ball in in the 39th minute. The stop came after a UCF attacker hit the post and an ensuing header went high.
UCF held an 11-2 advantage in shots, and a 7-2 lead in shots on goal in the opening half. Tekesky made a career-best seven saves in the half to help keep it a scoreless first half.
The second half opened with the lone goal of the match. It was scored by Cal Jennings and assisted by Barry Hattabiou. After receiving a long ball, Hattabiou beat a defender, went down the left side and crossed in to Jennings. In the match, Jennings had eight shots, six on goal.
Following the goal, the Mountaineers had several possessions in the final third, but could not get a shot off until junior defender Pascal Derwaritsch had a shot blocked from the edge of the box in the 82nd minute.
Tekesky followed with a pair of saves, and the defense forced another shot go high off a corner kick.
In the final three minutes, Tekesky stopped his 10th shot of the night, forcing a corner kick, in the 88th minute.
Morris had West Virginia's last chance in the 90th minute, but his shot was saved.
The Mountaineers face Maryland on Monday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. ET, in College Park, Maryland. WVU then returns home to host St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Tickets are available at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800 WVU GAME.
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. With the exception of Dollar Nights, single match tickets are $5 each and $3 for groups of 10 or more when purchased in advance at WVUGAME.com. 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 of the match. 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
UCF
Goals
0
1
Shots
5
18
Shots on Goal
3
11
Saves
10
3
Corners
6
7
Fouls
11
13
Scoring Plays
Jennings, Cal (4)
Assisted By: Barry, Hattabiou
Sorokin sends a long ball to Barry who t
47:26
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's SoccerD
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
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