#16 West Virginia Dominates La Salle 4-0 in Season Opener Mountaineers showcase championship credentials with commanding performance in Morgantown
MORGANTOWN, WV – The 16th-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers announced their championship intentions with authority on Sunday, dismantling visiting La Salle 4-0 in a dominant season-opening performance that showcased the depth and quality that earned them their preseason ranking.
The Mountaineers controlled proceedings from the opening whistle, outshooting the Explorers 26-4 and putting 14 shots on target compared to La Salle's meager two. The statistical dominance translated into early goals, with Marcus Caldeira breaking the deadlock just 8 minutes and 40 seconds into the match with an unassisted strike that set the tone for the afternoon.
West Virginia's attacking philosophy became clear as they peppered La Salle goalkeeper Valentin Kneis with shots throughout the first half. Felix Ewald emerged as the creative catalyst, unleashing six shots and consistently testing the German keeper. The Mountaineers' persistence paid dividends in the 41st minute when defender Thijs Veldhorst doubled the advantage, converting a well-worked move assisted by Ethan Dekel Daks.
The halftime break did little to slow West Virginia's momentum. Coach's tactical adjustments saw increased involvement from the flanks, with the Mountaineers earning five corner kicks to La Salle's three while maintaining their suffocating pressure. The third goal arrived in the 62nd minute through an unlikely source – defender Bryce Swinehart, who benefited from excellent build-up play involving Antonio Lima and the increasingly influential Dekel Daks.
Dekel Daks proved to be the architect of West Virginia's victory, recording two assists while contributing four shots of his own. His vision and passing range created numerous opportunities, with his ability to find space between La Salle's lines proving particularly problematic for the visitors' defensive structure.
La Salle's struggles were compounded by disciplinary issues, with the Explorers receiving two yellow cards and a red card that further disrupted their already fragmented game plan. Ismael Deme's dismissal after just four minutes on the pitch epitomized the visitors' difficult afternoon, forcing coach to reorganize his tactical approach repeatedly.
Caldeira capped his impressive individual performance with a second goal in the 85th minute, assisted by substitute Braedon Smith, whose late introduction added fresh legs to an already dominant attacking display. The Brazilian forward's clinical finishing – two goals from two shots on target – demonstrated the quality that makes West Virginia a legitimate contender this season.
The Mountaineers' defensive solidity proved equally impressive, with Marc Bonnaire earning a comfortable clean sheet despite making four saves. The backline, marshaled by Carlos Hernando who played 79 minutes, rarely looked troubled by La Salle's limited attacking forays.
For La Salle, the defeat highlighted the gulf in class between the programs. Despite Kneis making six saves to prevent a more embarrassing scoreline, the Explorers managed just two shots on target across 90 minutes. The early substitutions, including Zachary Forehand's withdrawal after 49 minutes, suggested tactical adjustments that never materialized into meaningful pressure.
West Virginia's victory margin could have been even more emphatic, with several clear chances going begging in the final third. The Mountaineers' 14 shots on target from 26 attempts demonstrated clinical finishing that will serve them well in Big 12 competition.
This commanding performance provides West Virginia with significant momentum as they begin their campaign to improve on last season's achievements. The combination of attacking fluidity, defensive organization, and squad depth on display suggests the Mountaineers' ranking is well-deserved.
Key Players
- Marcus Caldeira (West Virginia) - Clinical two-goal performance, converting both shots on target with excellent positioning and finishing
- Ethan Dekel Daks (West Virginia) - Orchestrated the victory with two assists and four shots, providing creativity and vision from midfield
- Valentin Kneis (La Salle) - Made six saves to prevent a more embarrassing defeat, showing resilience despite the challenging circumstances