(Photos by Dan Lohmann)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — On an occasion suitable for a dramatic conclusion to the Sun Belt men’s soccer season, top-seeded West Virginia made sure that no late heroics were required to claim the SBC Tournament title. The Mountaineers scored twice in each half to defeat sixth-seeded South Carolina, 4-0.
WVU pairs their regular season co-championship with the postseason tournament title. It is the program’s second such finish in the last three seasons.
“I think there was probably a moment in the 15th or 20th minute where you think this is going so well, the momentum is going to shift or they are going to have a spell,” Stratford said. “They are a very, very good team as well. But it just felt like the game stayed with us, stayed with us dictating the terms.”
Pablo Pozos gave WVU (13-2-4) the only goal they would need in the 25th minute, scoring off assists from Juan Alvarez and Kanta Ishii. West Virginia doubled their advantage ten minutes later when Julen Recalde scored his fourth goal of the season off a feed from Sammie Walker.
West Virginia added to their lead less than six minutes into the second half. Pozos scored on a penalty kick, giving him 11 goals on the season. Pozos would earn SBC Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
“This is a dream for me and something I have been working for for a long time, not just these last four years in college but since I started playing soccer,” Pozos said. “To win a tournament trophy and a conference tournament, and the MVP, is something that means a lot to me.”
“It really does give me a lot of joy and a lot of pride when I see my players so selfless and so willing to sacrifice and so invested in our success,” Stratford said of Pozos. “That’s been a really, really cool journey. That’s why he is a captain.”
In the 72nd minute, Nacho Martinez scored his first career goal to cap the scoring.
“I was waiting for this moment,” Martinez said. “This is my second year here and my first goal and in the most important game. I am very happy for the moment.”
“I think it was a continuation in a press and he carried on his run forward,” Stratford. “We had a joke the other day and I told him that if you score, you need to run up to me, gesture to me, like ‘now what’.”
The Mountaineers have won eight consecutive matches. They are unbeaten and have not been scored upon in their last nine matches.
West Virginia held a 22-4 advantage in shots and WVU goalkeeper Toby Mawer needed to make just one save to secure his 12th shutout of the season.
Dan Stratford on the prospect of potentially earning a Top 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, with the right to host at least two home matches:
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show is Monday at 1 p.m. @MetroNewsSports https://t.co/KaWjEAsGco
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) November 15, 2026
West Virginia (No. 7 coaches poll, No. 13 in RPI) awaits their NCAA Tournament selection Monday at 1 p.m. WVU looks to be in good position to earn a national (Top 16 seed). A Top 8 seed would give WVU hosting rights for at least two NCAA Tournament matches.
“When we play at home, you can see the results that we have,” Pozos said.
“There’s more than just RPI that is taken into consideration,” Stratford said. “The last eight is part of the consideration. Obviously, we have won eight straight and we haven’t conceded a goal.”