Crooks Leads the Way in WVU Win

Tuesday, September 6

Morgantown, W.Va.

7:00 p.m.

West Virginia University

2-2-0, 0-0-0

American

2-1-1, 0-0-0

American

West Virginia

September 06, 2022 10:19 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Dan Stratford Postgame

By: Joe Mitchin

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Led by junior midfielder Ryan Crooks, the No. 23-ranked West Virginia University men's soccer team earned a 4-1 win over American on Tuesday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

The Oxfordshire, England, native was involved in all four Mountaineer goals, scoring twice and adding a pair of assists for six total points in the win. He became the first WVU player to accomplish the feat since Omid Namazi (2G, 3A) on Oct. 27, 1987, against Marshall.

WVU (2-2) scored on each of its first three shots to start the night. In the fourth minute, fifth-year senior defender Aaron Denk Gracia hit a rocket off a West Virginia corner to open the scoring. Five minutes later, the Mountaineers struck again off a corner kick, as redshirt junior defender Bjarne Thiesen headed in a goal in the ninth minute to double the lead.

Crooks scored the first of his two goals in the 14th minute. Sophomore defender Max Trethewey got WVU into the attacking area, before freshman forward Marcus Caldeira was able to distribute the ball to Crooks for the tap-in goal.

Down, 3-0, the Eagles (2-1-1) scored an unanswered goal from distance to squish the Mountaineer lead to two in the 16th minute of play. It was one of American's two shots on goal.

It stayed 3-1 until the 77th minute, when Crooks completed the brace to cap the night. After a shot attempt by redshirt senior midfielder/defender Dyon Dromers was saved, Crooks was in position to bury a deflected ball for the tally.

In all, WVU outshot American, 13-6, including 8-2 in shots on goal. West Virginia also held a 6-1 edge in corner kicks.

Crooks finished with a game-high four shots – all of them on goal, while Dromers and redshirt junior midfielder/defender Sergio Ors Navarro each posted two shots. In goal, junior goalkeeper Jackson Lee needed just one save to secure the victory.

With the win, the Mountaineers improved to 7-1-1 against AU in the all-time series, including a perfect 5-0 in Morgantown. Additionally, West Virginia extended its home, unbeaten streak to 15 matches, dating back to March 24, 2021.

Up next, the Mountaineers play the middle game of their three-match homestand by playing host to Yale on Friday, Sept. 9. Kickoff at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET.

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