Friday, August 30
West Long Branch, N.J.
4:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
1-0-0
1
at
0
Monmouth
0-1-0
1
2
F
West Virginia
0
1
1
Monmouth
0
0
0
Photo by: Jennifer Shephard
WVU Downs Monmouth in Season Opener
August 30, 2019 07:51 PM | Men's Soccer
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The No. 20/23/25 West Virginia University men's soccer team opened the 2019 season with a 1-0 win over Monmouth on Friday afternoon at Hesse Field on the Great Lawn in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
An early second-half goal by senior forward Ethan Shim proved to be the difference in the squad's lid lifter. Opening the season away from home for the fourth consecutive year, the Mountaineers created several chances in the final third and saw their goalkeeper register multiple big saves in the second half en route to the victory.
"The guys played well today, really well," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "For us to be clicking in the manner that we did for our first game was very, very positive. If not for some very good goalkeeping, and we hit the post a couple of times, maybe we could've gotten a few more (goals). There are some things we want to clean up, and we think we can get better from, but I thought the guys were excellent tonight."
WVU earned its first big chance in the ninth minute, when junior midfielder Paul Jimenez Albelda, one of four Mountaineers making their WVU debut on Friday, put a header on goal, right into the chest of the Monmouth keeper. Later on, senior defender Albert Andres-Llop ripped a shot from distance, which was batted away by the Hawks in goal.
Senior midfielder Andres Muriel Albino also had a pair of first-half tries, putting the Monmouth back line on alert again. However, the Mountaineers, which had a goal waved off with less than two minutes to play in the opening half due to an offside call, returned to the dressing room with the score still even at 0-0.
Early in the second half, sophomore forward Tony Pineda chipped a ball up to junior midfielder Tsubasa Takada into the box. Takada tried to sneak a ball through near post but was unable to find the back of the net as WVU was denied again.
Then, the breakthrough came in the 51st minute. Junior defender Kevin Morris sent a long ball into the box, which was played by senior forward Ethan Shim. Despite battling a Hawks' defender and a tough angle, the Maraval, Trinidad, native kissed a ball off the post and in to give West Virginia a 1-0 lead.
The goal marked Shim's first career game winner.
From there, it was junior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky who put the game away. First, he swatted aside a Monmouth attempt in the 59th minute, before executing another big save in the 77th.
On the other end of the pitch, Muriel Albino was denied off a free kick in the 72nd minute, while Pineda hit the post in the 76th. Still, the Mountaineers were able to hold their lead and improve to 8-6 overall in season openers under LeBlanc.
West Virginia held a 18-6 advantage in shots, including 8-3 on shots on goal. WVU also led in the corner kicks department, 7-5.
Next up, the Mountaineers travel to Newark, Delaware, for a match at Delaware on Monday, Sept. 2. Kickoff at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
An early second-half goal by senior forward Ethan Shim proved to be the difference in the squad's lid lifter. Opening the season away from home for the fourth consecutive year, the Mountaineers created several chances in the final third and saw their goalkeeper register multiple big saves in the second half en route to the victory.
"The guys played well today, really well," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "For us to be clicking in the manner that we did for our first game was very, very positive. If not for some very good goalkeeping, and we hit the post a couple of times, maybe we could've gotten a few more (goals). There are some things we want to clean up, and we think we can get better from, but I thought the guys were excellent tonight."
WVU earned its first big chance in the ninth minute, when junior midfielder Paul Jimenez Albelda, one of four Mountaineers making their WVU debut on Friday, put a header on goal, right into the chest of the Monmouth keeper. Later on, senior defender Albert Andres-Llop ripped a shot from distance, which was batted away by the Hawks in goal.
Senior midfielder Andres Muriel Albino also had a pair of first-half tries, putting the Monmouth back line on alert again. However, the Mountaineers, which had a goal waved off with less than two minutes to play in the opening half due to an offside call, returned to the dressing room with the score still even at 0-0.
Early in the second half, sophomore forward Tony Pineda chipped a ball up to junior midfielder Tsubasa Takada into the box. Takada tried to sneak a ball through near post but was unable to find the back of the net as WVU was denied again.
Then, the breakthrough came in the 51st minute. Junior defender Kevin Morris sent a long ball into the box, which was played by senior forward Ethan Shim. Despite battling a Hawks' defender and a tough angle, the Maraval, Trinidad, native kissed a ball off the post and in to give West Virginia a 1-0 lead.
The goal marked Shim's first career game winner.
From there, it was junior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky who put the game away. First, he swatted aside a Monmouth attempt in the 59th minute, before executing another big save in the 77th.
On the other end of the pitch, Muriel Albino was denied off a free kick in the 72nd minute, while Pineda hit the post in the 76th. Still, the Mountaineers were able to hold their lead and improve to 8-6 overall in season openers under LeBlanc.
West Virginia held a 18-6 advantage in shots, including 8-3 on shots on goal. WVU also led in the corner kicks department, 7-5.
Next up, the Mountaineers travel to Newark, Delaware, for a match at Delaware on Monday, Sept. 2. Kickoff at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Team Stats
WVU
MU
Goals
1
0
Shots
18
6
Shots on Goal
8
3
Saves
3
7
Corners
7
5
Fouls
9
12
Scoring Plays
SHIM, Ethan (1)
Assisted By: MORRIS, Kevin
GOAL by WVU SHIM, Ethan (FIRST GOAL), Assist by MORRIS, Kevin, goal number 1 for season.
50:23
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's SoccerD
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
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