MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After quality wins over nationally-ranked opponents Pittsburgh and Penn State, the WVU men’s soccer team broke into the top ten in a pair of national polls on Monday. Suddenly, opponents leaving Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium could appear to be quite content with a draw.
Loyola (1-1-1) was the first team to not fall victim to the Mountaineers this season as the Greyhounds held WVU to a 0-0 draw Monday evening.
“I think there was only one team that was going to win the game. Sometimes you have days like today. We had a couple real key chances in the first half that we didn’t quite convert. That’s really the only message I can give the players,” WVU head coach Dan Stratford said.
“It is a sign of respect. We have obviously had a great start to the season. We’ve got a number by our name. Teams are going to come here and it is going to be their World Cup and it is going to mean everything to stay in the game as long as possible. You have to respect what they did. I don’t necessarily agree with it but they had a tactic and a plan in terms of slowing the game down.”
West Virginia controlled the run of play for large stretches of the 110-minute match, but were unable to get a shot past Loyola goalkeeper Chase Vosvick. He made seven saves.
“There needs to be greater execution in the final third. But it is not for a lack of talent. There’s quality, technical players in the attacking areas for us.”
The Mountaineers outshot Loyola 14-7 and 7-1 in shots on target. WVU also held a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.
“We are looking at it a little bit like we lost the game. But that is a great sign of a very, very good team that we are not satisfied with keeping a clean sheet against a good Loyola team.”
West Virginia goalkeeper Steve Tekesky needed to made just one save in posting his second shutout of the season. The Mountaineers (3-0-1) will conclude their four-match homestand Friday against Ohio State.