MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — With three consecutive four-goal performances in dominating victories and a No. 4 preseason ranking in the United Soccer Coaches national poll, the WVU men’s soccer team didn’t have to climb very far to reach the top spot. That news became official on Tuesday when the Mountaineers (3-0) showed up atop the national coaches rankings for the first time in school history.
“Obviously by judging how our first three games went and where we started in the ranking and the way results went, we knew there was a good chance we’d be number one,” WVU graduate student midfielder Simon Carlson said on Tuesday’s edition of the MetroNews Citynet Statewide Sportsline.
“We talked about it this morning and it is a big moment for the program. It is something to be very proud of. But it is also early in the season and we just have to use it as more motivation and keep focused. We have two more good tests in California with Cal Baptist and LMU, just keep this train rolling and lasting to the end of the season.”
Carlson transferred in from Sun Belt Conference rival Georgia State for his final season of eligibility and he has blended in well with a veteran group of Mountaineers. Carlson has scored three goals and dished out four assists in the team’s three matches.
“This system fit me well. After I came on a visit and talked to Strats [Dan Stratford], I already knew many of the guys and they spoke all good things. It just presented itself to me as feeling completely right. I was confident from the beginning that West Virginia was the place that I could come into and make a meaningful impact on the team and help us make more history like last year.
“[The Sun Belt] is a really good conference. I think it is the best one there is for men’s soccer. It is filled with good, competitive teams that play a good style of soccer. That always makes it enjoyable to play in. You are coming up against good competition, good crowds and good atmospheres.”
After home victories over Purdue Fort Wayne, Saint Francis and George Washington, the Mountaineers will play a pair of matches in California Friday and Tuesday. WVU visits Cal Baptist before facing Loyola Marymount. WVU defeated LMU in the NCAA Elite Eight round last December.
“They are two very good teams, two [NCAA] Tournament teams from last year. I think it will be a really good test for us to continue to prove ourselves and continue to improve. We have done that from game one to game three, making huge jumps in each game.”