MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After more than a year since his Jan. 2020 hiring, Dan Stratford will make his Mountaineer head-coaching debut as the men’s soccer team opens the 2021 spring campaign at No. 25 Charlotte at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26, at Transamerica Field in Charlotte, N.C.
Fans can follow along with the action with a live stream of the match, courtesy of CUSA TV, while live stats can be found at wvusports.com.
“We’re certainly looking forward to getting underway, it’s been a long time coming,” Stratford said. “Charlotte is a familiar opponent. I know many of the guys still remember the first time they played here in the fall of 2019, which I know was a highly contested game. We’re expecting a really tough test against a very good team that has a fantastic reputation in Division I. It will definitely be a great way to start the season.”
After the Mountaineers’ fall season was postponed due to COVID-19, WVU hits the pitch Friday for the first time since Nov. 2019, and marking the first competitive match of Stratford’s tenure as the program’s 10th head coach.
The Mountaineers return to action after finishing 10-9-2 in 2019, winning their first Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship, earning the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. WVU made its 14th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, advancing to the Second Round for the second consecutive season and eighth time ever.
Nine lettermen from the 2019 season return to the squad this spring, while the Mountaineers add 12 newcomers to the group. Among WVU’s starting 11 from 2019, six players return to the team this spring, including standout goalkeeper, senior Steven Tekesky, who was named the 2019 MAC Tournament MVP, the first Mountaineer to earn the honor.
WVU was voted to finish fourth in the MAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
