Mountaineers Kick Off 2019 Preseason
August 13, 2019 11:44 AM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 20/23-ranked West Virginia University men's soccer team opened preseason practice on Tuesday morning at the Men's Soccer Practice Facility.
The reigning Mid-American Conference regular-season champion Mountaineers began the first of 17 days of preparation leading up to the 2019 season opener at Monmouth, on Friday, Aug. 30, in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Along with the squad's first practice, a strength training session and preseason testing also are scheduled for Tuesday.
"It's obviously great to see the guys again," said Marlon LeBlanc, who enters his 14th year at the helm. "It's great to be back and spending time with them. This is a pretty experienced group that we have coming back, so they know the process and the protocols and the testing that we look to do. The guys have come in with a fantastic attitude and it was nice to get them back out onto the pitch today as well."
The Mountaineers are coming off a 14-win campaign last season, including a perfect 5-0 mark in conference play. WVU made its 13th trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history, and it advanced to the second round for the first time since 2011 and seventh time overall. West Virginia finished No. 3 in the nation in assists per game (2.43), No. 5 in total assists (51), No. 7 in total points (135) and No. 10 in points per game (6.43) and total goals (42) last season.
WVU's 29-man roster includes 13 players who played in at least eight games in 2018 and nine who started at least 15 times last fall. The Mountaineers also return 29 of their 41 goals scored from a year ago, including senior defender Pascal Derwaritsch and senior midfielder Andres Muriel Albino, who tied for second on the team with six goals each.
Junior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky also returns this season after starting all 21 matches and logging 1,892 minutes for the Mountaineers in 2018. Last fall, the All-MAC First Team selection finished No. 11 in the country in total saves (86).
Senior defender Albert Andres-Llop, Derwaritsch, senior defender Ryan Kellogg and Muriel Albino joined Tekesky in garnering all-conference honors last season. All four were named to the All-MAC Second Team.
In all, seven seniors – Andres-Llop, Derwaritsch, midfielder Sebastian Garcia-Herreros, Kellogg, midfielder Logan Lucas, Muriel Albino and midfielder Ethan Shim – are set to lead the Mountaineers into the new campaign. The team also is set to welcome 13 newcomers this fall.
The Mountaineers are scheduled to compete in three exhibition matches this month. The action begins when the Mountaineers host Virginia Tech on Friday, Aug. 16, at 4 p.m. ET, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, before the annual Gold/Blue Intrasquad commences on Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.
WVU hits the road for its preseason finale, which is set for Aug. 24, at Mount St. Mary's. Kickoff in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is set for 2 p.m.
West Virginia hosts nine home matches in 2019, highlighted by three MAC matches against Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and 2018 Men's College Cup runner-up Akron. The home slate, which kicks off against Wright State, on Sept. 7, also features 2018 NCAA Tournament qualifier Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Dayton, Penn and San Diego.
WVU will play eight road matches, including fixtures against Bowling Green, SIU Edwardsville, Ohio State and North Carolina, among others.
For single-match tickets, fans can visit WVUGAME.com or call 1-800-WVU-GAME. When purchasing in advance online, 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.
The WVU soccer scarf ticket packages also are on sale now. The scarf ticket package includes a scarf and 10 tickets to be used at any men's or women's soccer match during the 2019 regular season. Packages are just $35 and are available while supplies last. This year's winning scarf design says, "Mountaineer Soccer" on one side, with "Almost Heaven" on the other. The soccer teams' Flying WV shield also is on both sides of the scarf.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The reigning Mid-American Conference regular-season champion Mountaineers began the first of 17 days of preparation leading up to the 2019 season opener at Monmouth, on Friday, Aug. 30, in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Along with the squad's first practice, a strength training session and preseason testing also are scheduled for Tuesday.
"It's obviously great to see the guys again," said Marlon LeBlanc, who enters his 14th year at the helm. "It's great to be back and spending time with them. This is a pretty experienced group that we have coming back, so they know the process and the protocols and the testing that we look to do. The guys have come in with a fantastic attitude and it was nice to get them back out onto the pitch today as well."
The Mountaineers are coming off a 14-win campaign last season, including a perfect 5-0 mark in conference play. WVU made its 13th trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history, and it advanced to the second round for the first time since 2011 and seventh time overall. West Virginia finished No. 3 in the nation in assists per game (2.43), No. 5 in total assists (51), No. 7 in total points (135) and No. 10 in points per game (6.43) and total goals (42) last season.
WVU's 29-man roster includes 13 players who played in at least eight games in 2018 and nine who started at least 15 times last fall. The Mountaineers also return 29 of their 41 goals scored from a year ago, including senior defender Pascal Derwaritsch and senior midfielder Andres Muriel Albino, who tied for second on the team with six goals each.
Junior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky also returns this season after starting all 21 matches and logging 1,892 minutes for the Mountaineers in 2018. Last fall, the All-MAC First Team selection finished No. 11 in the country in total saves (86).
Senior defender Albert Andres-Llop, Derwaritsch, senior defender Ryan Kellogg and Muriel Albino joined Tekesky in garnering all-conference honors last season. All four were named to the All-MAC Second Team.
In all, seven seniors – Andres-Llop, Derwaritsch, midfielder Sebastian Garcia-Herreros, Kellogg, midfielder Logan Lucas, Muriel Albino and midfielder Ethan Shim – are set to lead the Mountaineers into the new campaign. The team also is set to welcome 13 newcomers this fall.
The Mountaineers are scheduled to compete in three exhibition matches this month. The action begins when the Mountaineers host Virginia Tech on Friday, Aug. 16, at 4 p.m. ET, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, before the annual Gold/Blue Intrasquad commences on Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.
WVU hits the road for its preseason finale, which is set for Aug. 24, at Mount St. Mary's. Kickoff in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is set for 2 p.m.
West Virginia hosts nine home matches in 2019, highlighted by three MAC matches against Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and 2018 Men's College Cup runner-up Akron. The home slate, which kicks off against Wright State, on Sept. 7, also features 2018 NCAA Tournament qualifier Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Dayton, Penn and San Diego.
WVU will play eight road matches, including fixtures against Bowling Green, SIU Edwardsville, Ohio State and North Carolina, among others.
For single-match tickets, fans can visit WVUGAME.com or call 1-800-WVU-GAME. When purchasing in advance online, 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.
The WVU soccer scarf ticket packages also are on sale now. The scarf ticket package includes a scarf and 10 tickets to be used at any men's or women's soccer match during the 2019 regular season. Packages are just $35 and are available while supplies last. This year's winning scarf design says, "Mountaineer Soccer" on one side, with "Almost Heaven" on the other. The soccer teams' Flying WV shield also is on both sides of the scarf.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
D/MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ 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
