The WVU men’s soccer team could not hold onto an early lead and saw their season end in a penalty kick shootout at Georgetown in the NCAA quarterfinals. After 110 minutes of regulation and overtime play resulted in a 1-1 draw, the No. 3 Hoyas prevailed in the shootout, 4-1.
No. 11 West Virginia (12-3-6) was staked to an early lead in the 16th minute when Yoran Popovich netted his fifth goal of the season. Fairmont Senior graduate Ike Swiger and Luke McCormick assisted on the tally. The Mountaineers led 1-0 at halftime.
Georgetown leveled the match in the 67th minute when Dante Polvara scored his sixth goal of the season on a penalty kick.
The Hoyas converted on all four of their attempts in the shootout, ending the season for the Mountaineers. Georgetown held a 15-11 lead in shots but the Mountaineers led 6-4 in shots on goal. Steve Tekesky made three saves in the Mountaineer net.
“We left here with no regrets,” WVU head coach Dan Stratford said. “We played a great game against a great team. (There were) marginal decisions. It’s a penalty shootout, so it could’ve gone either way, but we just played a team that has been (in the quarterfinals) for three years in a row, won it all in 2019, and is 12-0 at home. But between the two sides, I’d argue we came on stronger in the second half despite having the lead. So, I’m just so proud of our players’ effort and the courage they’ve shown all season.”
West Virginia competed in the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in forty years. Georgetown (18-2-1) advances to the College Cup next weekend in Cary, N.C.