MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia men’s soccer team opens a two-match homestand against Penn at 7 p.m. Saturdayat Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Saturday’s match is the Mountaineers’ International Students Appreciation Game, with the first 250 fans receiving stadium horns to help cheer on the squad. Fans can purchase tickets at wvugame.com to avoid lines at the gate on game day. When purchasing online, tickets are $5 each and $3 for groups of 10 or more. All tickets are general admission.
At the stadium ticket window, tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors and $3 for groups on game day. The discounted online pricing will be available until kickoff of the match.
Penn coach “Brian (Gill) has done a fantastic job with his group this year,” WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. “They’ve played some good competition — it’s going to be a big RPI game for us. It’s a team that likes to play — they’re good at keeping the ball, they are very organized in terms of their shape and they’ve got good players who aren’t just going to smash the ball up the field. They’re capable players, and Brian has done a good job of putting them together and coaching them and producing results. Penn has our full respect.”
Saturday marks the fifth meeting between the Mountaineers and Quakers. The two teams last met on Oct. 24, 2017, in Morgantown, resulting in a 1-0 WVU victory. Jorge Quintanilla scored on a 65th-minute penalty kick, while then-freshman goalkeeper Steven Tekesky made three saves in the win.
The Mountaineers lead the all-time series over Penn, 3-1.
West Virginia (5-2-1) is coming off a 4-1 win at Ohio State on Sept. 24, at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Senior midfielder Andres Muriel Albino scored a pair of goals, in the 18th and 58th minute, respectively, while freshman midfielder Luke McCormick tallied his first career goal in the 63rd. The Buckeyes also conceded an own goal during the contest.
The Mountaineers outshot Ohio State 12-8, including 5-2 in shots on goal. With the win, WVU improved to 3-1 on the road this season.
WVU enters the match ranked No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference in corner kicks, with 50, as well as No. 2 in the conference in shots (119). Individually, Muriel Albino is No. 2 in the MAC in goals (5) and points (11) and tied for No. 3 in shots on goal (9), while McCormick sits in a tie for No. 3 in the league in assists, with three.
Tekesky continues to lead the MAC in shutouts, with two. Additionally, he ranks No. 2 in the conference in goals against average (.965) and saves (22).
The Quakers (3-2-1) are led by second-year coach Brian Gill, who holds an 8-7-7 mark with the school. Penn is coming off a 2-1 loss to Lehigh on Sept. 24.
Penn allowed just four goals this season, as sophomore goalkeeper Dane Jacomen holds a save percentage of .810 with three clean sheets. Offensively, junior midfielder Joey Bhangdia leads the team in nearly every offensive category, including goals (4) and points (8).
Penn is the fifth opponent in the Mountaineers’ last seven games to enter the contest with a winning record.
