WVU Shuts Out Penn at Home

Saturday, September 28

Morgantown, W.Va.

7:00 p.m.

West Virginia University

6-2-1

Penn

3-3-1

Penn

West Virginia

Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks

September 28, 2019 10:10 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Photo Gallery Coach LeBlanc Postgame

By: Joe Mitchin

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men's soccer team earned a 3-0 win over Penn in front of 1,534 fans at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.

The Mountaineers received a pair of goals by freshman forward Rodrigo Robles Grajera, while senior midfielder Andres Muriel Albino chipped in with another goal in the shutout victory. West Virginia took the lead in the ninth minute and never looked back, as it improved to 6-2-1 on the season.

"(Penn) is a good team, and they were hard to break down, but I thought we did break them down," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "There was more for us in the final third that I think we can still be better on in terms of the final ball and the final cross, but, for us, to breakthrough three times is good and hopefully it's something we can continue to build on."

West Virginia wasted no time taking control of the contest. After senior defender Ryan Kellogg sent a ball into the box, sophomore forward Tony Pineda headed the ball in the air, which was back-heeled into the goal by Robles Grajera less than 10 minutes into the match.

WVU kept the offensive pressure on in the 33rd minute when junior midfielder Pau Jimenez Albelda tested the Penn keeper with a low shot toward the far post. The Mountaineers finished with five shots in the first half as they controlled much of the opening 45 minutes.

Senior defender Albert Andres-Llop opened the second half with a hard shot on frame from the corner of the box in the 51st minute, but the chance was saved by the Quakers (3-3-1). Three minutes later, the Mountaineers' back line got to work, fending off three consecutive Penn corner kicks to help keep the shutout intact.

Junior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky, who finished with four saves on the night, gobbled up the Quakers' best chance of the evening in the 62nd minute on an open shot sent from the top of the box. That led to Robles Grajera's second goal, which occurred in the 68th minute.

After the Mountaineers earned a corner kick, the ball was flicked in the box by junior midfielder Tsubasa Takada and senior midfielder Pascal Derwaritsch, before the Burgos, Spain, native capitalized on the far post with the finish.

The performance was Robles Grajera's second multi-goal game of the season. He finished the night was a career-high five points.

But the Mountaineers weren't done there. In the 80th minute, Muriel Albino showed off his skill, bending a shot far post from 10-yards out to extend the lead to three. The tally was the Sevilla, Spain, native's team-leading sixth goal of the year and third this week. Robles Grajera and freshman midfielder Luke McCormick earned assists on the play.

West Virginia outshot Penn, 11-9, including 8-4 in shots on goal. The Mountaineers also recorded 10 corner kicks in the victory, while conceding just four.

Tekesky and the Mountaineers earned their third clean sheet of the campaign and the squad's first since Sept. 10. With the win, WVU extended its streak to 27 consecutive wins when scoring two or more goals. The Mountaineers have scored multiple goals in four of their last five matches.

West Virginia also improved its all-time record against Penn to 4-1.

Next up, the Mountaineers cap their two-match homestand on Friday, Oct. 4, against San Diego. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

Along with the return of Friday Night Futbol, featuring half-off drinks until kickoff, the Mountaineers will celebrate National Taco Day. Additionally, the first 300 fans will receive maracas to help cheer on the team.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.