West Virginia’s Historic Season Ends in Penalty Shootout

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The No. 11-seeded West Virginia College men’s soccer team attained a 1-1, double-extra time attract at No. 3 Georgetown in the NCAA Quarterfinals but fell, 4-1, in penalties on Saturday afternoon at Shaw Subject.
 
The Mountaineers scored the game’s opening objective and led 1- at halftime. However, the Hoyas drew even with a penalty-kick goal in the second fifty percent just before advancing to the Men’s School Cup in the shootout.
 
With the end result, WVU’s historic season ends with a 12-3-6 overall mark.
 
“We still left listed here with no regrets,” WVU coach Dan Stratford stated. “We played a excellent sport from a wonderful workforce. (There were being) marginal decisions. It is really a penalty shootout, so it could’ve gone both way, but we just played a workforce that has been (in the quarterfinals) for 3 years in a row, gained it all in 2019, and is 12- at residence. But involving the two sides, I would argue we arrived on more powerful in the second 50 percent even with possessing the direct. So, I’m just so happy of our players’ hard work and the courage they’ve revealed all period.”
 
West Virginia opened the scoring in the 16th moment with a intention by senior ahead Yoran Popovic. The Zuidlarden, Netherlands, native received on the finish of a very well-positioned ball sent into the entrance of the intention to give the site visitors a 1- edge. It marked Popovic’s fifth objective of the campaign, and it was assisted by senior ahead Ike Swiger and junior midfielder Luke McCormick.
 
Despite currently being outshot, 7-2, in the to start with 50 {cf07cd047201b183b19c0b335dbd7d35a498f84568531c8abe8643bd3ccfd494}, the Mountaineers took the one particular-objective lead into the locker place for halftime.
 
In the second 50 percent, WVU experienced several alternatives to double its guide. Initial, sophomore midfielder Ryan Crooks fired a shot from distance just superior in the 60th minute, prior to a fury all over the goal observed McCormick, Crooks and redshirt sophomore defender Bjarne Thiesen all practically obtain the back of the web two minutes later on.
 
Nevertheless, the matched remained at 1-.
 
Georgetown (18-2-1) obtained its equalizer in the 67th moment with a penalty-kick goal. That rating line stood right until the two groups arrived at 90 minutes, which led to additional time.
 
In the 97th moment, the Hoyas almost won it, but fifth-12 months senior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky saved his club with a massive preserve to extend the match. It was one of a few saves for the Raymore, Missouri, native on the day.
 
Neither staff discovered a breakthrough in the two, 10-minute extra time durations, leading to the shootout. All four of Georgetown’s shooters transformed, whilst two WVU photographs have been saved away to clinch it for the hosts.
 
Georgetown held a 15-11 edge in shots, when WVU had 6 pictures on purpose, to the Hoyas’ 4. GU led in corner kicks, 5-2.
 
West Virginia performed in the quarterfinals for the initially time since 1981 on Saturday. What is far more, the Mountaineers had hardly ever played in the spherical of 8 in the latest NCAA Tournament structure.
 
WVU was seeded in the NCAA Event for the 1st time since 2007, and it gained its best national seed because 2006. Also, the club’s 3 NCAA Tournament matches this slide had been the most in one-time plan heritage.
 
For more facts on the Mountaineers, adhere to @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.