MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA - West Virginia (7-1-2) secured a 2-0 victory over Ga. Southern (8-1-1) on Saturday afternoon at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, extending their winning streak to two matches. The Mountaineers controlled possession throughout much of the contest, earning their third clean sheet of the season.
The first half saw West Virginia establish their dominance early, with Pablo Pozos testing the Eagles' defense in the 7th minute with a low shot toward the center. Ethan Dekel Daks followed with two dangerous attempts in the 12th and 14th minutes, both sailing high. Ga. Southern's Mitch Picksley responded with a promising chance in the 24th minute, but his effort went over the crossbar.
The opening period featured intense physical play, with Felix Ewald and Ethan Dekel Daks both receiving yellow cards for West Virginia in the 25th and 31st minutes respectively. The Eagles' defensive unit, anchored by Toby Nevile, withstood significant pressure as the Mountaineers generated multiple scoring opportunities through set pieces, earning four corner kicks before halftime.
West Virginia maintained their attacking momentum in the second half, with Braedon Smith creating two quality chances in the 47th and 64th minutes. Ga. Southern's Ryan Holmes attempted to equalize in the 51st minute, but his shot went wide left. The match's intensity peaked around the 54th minute when both teams received yellow cards in quick succession - Dante Huckaby for West Virginia and the Eagles being cautioned for persistent infringement.
The statistical advantage clearly favored the Mountaineers, who outshot Ga. Southern 12-9 overall, with a 6-3 edge in shots on target. West Virginia's tactical superiority was further evidenced by their 8-2 advantage in corner kicks. The physical nature of the match resulted in seven yellow cards total - four for West Virginia and three for Ga. Southern.
Marcus Caldeira proved instrumental in West Virginia's midfield control, while goalkeeper Marc Bonnaire recorded three crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet. For Ga. Southern, Emil Seedorff Sorensen showed impressive defensive resilience, particularly in dealing with the Mountaineers' set-piece threats.
West Virginia's tactical approach focused on building through the wide areas, with Pablo Pozos and Braedon Smith consistently stretching Ga. Southern's defensive shape. The Eagles attempted to counter through quick transitions, but struggled to break through the organized Mountaineer defense led by Dante Huckaby.
The victory maintains West Virginia's strong form, following their recent 1-0 win at UCF. For Ga. Southern, the loss ends their impressive eight-match unbeaten run and marks their first defeat since early September. The Eagles' previous defensive prowess - having conceded just four goals in their first nine matches - was finally breached by the Mountaineers' persistent attack.
Both teams face quick turnarounds with conference matches ahead. West Virginia travels to face Coastal Carolina on October 10, while Ga. Southern heads to UCF the same evening. The Mountaineers will look to extend their winning streak, while the Eagles aim to bounce back from their first setback of the season.