(Photo gallery by Teran Malone)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Staked to a lead twice against UNC-Greensboro, the No. 5 WVU men’s soccer team was held to a 2-2 draw Tuesday at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. With the result, the Mountaineers extended their unbeaten streak at home to 21 matches.
“Anytime you score two goals at home, you should win the game, or you should feel like you have done enough to win the game. Whether it was just deserved or otherwise, we have fallen short tonight of securing the result. Whether it was getting a second goal or extending the lead by two when we had momentum with us, or whether it was the resilience and making sure we fought through the moments and spells that they had in the game — which we expected — either way you look at it we fell a little bit short today,” said WVU head coach Dan Stratford.
After being held to a scoreless draw at Loyola Marymount on September 10, the Mountaineers needed just over five minutes to get on the scoresheet. Isaac Sheer threaded a pass to Marcus Caldeira and Caldeira collected his third goal of the season, sending a left-footed shot into the side netting.
The lead lasted just 71 seconds. Arnaud Tattevin equalized for the Spartans (3-1-3) with his first goal of the season.
The Mountaineers regained the advantage in the 23rd minute. The Spartans were assessed a handball in the box, giving WVU a penalty kick opportunity. After a seven-minute video review the handball was confirmed. Sergio Ors Navarro delivered his nation-best eighth goal of the season.
“I will put it on record right now, with video review we are not ready for it at the college level and it needs to be removed. It is just hurting the game and hurting the fans’ experience.”
UNCG equalized a second time with a goal from Mikey Ketteman in the 59th minute. Both teams had strong scoring opportunities in the closing half hour, but to no avail.
“It is okay for us to feel frustrated. It is an interesting message because we are 4-0-2. Under any normal season and any normal circumstances, you would be relatively pleased with that if they offered you that after six games. But the standards are so high for the program that we are genuinely frustrated that we have not got a hundred percent record right now.”
WVU outshot UNCG 16-7 and they held a 7-3 edge on corner kicks. The Mountaineers fell from No. 1 to No. 5 in the national coaches poll on Tuesday after the draw at LMU. West Virginia will open Sun Belt Conference play at Old Dominion Saturday.
“We’ve talked about this year coming away with as many trophies as possible. That’s the first one we can get, the [Sun Belt] regular season trophy. We have an opportunity to start on the right foot. I think our first game last year with Georgia Southern, we tied at home. To get off to a winning start against ODU, who right now have had a really good start to the season and sit quite nicely in the RPI, that’s a really good opportunity for us on Saturday night.”