MORGANTOWN — The No. 5-ranked WVU men’s soccer team earned a 1-0 victory over Ohio State in front of 2,443 fans on Friday night in Morgantown.
In the second-largest crowd at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Mountaineer men’s soccer history, WVU needed just a third-minute goal to earn the home result. Fifth-year senior defender Kevin Morris scored off a corner kick to give WVU an early lead that held throughout the night.
“That was probably our most fatigued performance of the season, but it was to be expected,” WVU coach Dan Stratford said. “Today was just about doing whatever it takes. Of course, we want to continue to be a team that plays good soccer, and I’d love us to be clinical enough to score a second goal, but, honestly, the only thing that really counted for me today was that we got the win. The guys are really excited, and they are very deserving of the rest they are going to get in the next two or three days.”
Morris got a head on a Mountaineer corner kick less than three minutes into the contest to give West Virginia (4-0-1) a 1-0 lead. Freshman defender Frederik Jorgensen earned the assist on the early tally.
From there, WVU, which played in its fourth consecutive home game on Friday night, collected four more shots in the half while largely keeping Ohio State (1-3-1) off the ball. The Mountaineers led by a goal after 45 minutes.
In the second half, West Virginia nearly doubled its lead when senior forward Adam Burchell got a good look at goal from inside the box. The chance, however, was saved by the Buckeye goalkeeper to keep the lead at just one.
Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky made two saves in the win, including one in the 64th minute when he flicked an OSU shot attempt over the bar. The Raymore, Missouri, native finished the night relatively unchallenged, earning his 23rd career shutout, good for No. 4 in program history.
The Mountaineers went on to hold an 8-4 advantage in shots in the win, while both teams recorded two shots on goal. WVU also had a season-high eight corner kicks, to OSU’s four.
Burchell and fifth-year senior midfielder Pau Jimenez Albelda each had two shots to lead WVU.
With the win, West Virginia improved to 12-6-4 all-time against the Buckeyes, including 8-0-1 at home. Of note, Friday’s fixture marked Ohio State’s first trip to Morgantown since 2008.
The match also was the fifth time the WVU men’s team played in front of more than 2,000 fans at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. WVU improved to 11-3 in front of home crowds of 1,500 or more since the facility opened in 2004.
“It was amazing,” Stratford said of the crowd. “It was an hour before kickoff and there were already 300-400 people here. Truly, this is becoming one of the best atmospheres in men’s soccer in the country. They look like they’re having fun, too, and we want them to keep coming back.”
Next up, the Mountaineers hit the road for the first time since Aug. 26, when they travel to Huntington for an in-state matchup against No. 10 Marshall at 7 p.m. next Friday.
