West Virginia Scores Twice in Second Half to Turn Back Men’s Soccer 2-0

Monday, August 28

Morgantown, W.Va.

7 p.m.

Bucknell University

1-1-0, 0-0-0

West Virginia

2-0-0, 0-0-0

Bucknell

West Virginia

Photo by: Lianne Garrahan

West Virginia Scores Twice in Second Half to Turn Back Men’s Soccer 2-0

8/28/2023 9:36:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia netted a pair of second-half goals to hold off Bucknell 2-0 in non-conference men's soccer action on Monday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Bison defended well throughout much of the match but dropped to 1-1 on the season heading into Friday's home opener.

After both teams managed only one shot on target in the first half, West Virginia (2-0) broke through nine minutes into the second. Frederik Jorgensen's low cross in from the left leaked all the way through to the back side where Marcus Caldeira punched it into the open net. It was the third goal in two games to start the season for Caldeira, who had a brace in the Mountaineers' 3-0 win over Cal Baptist on Thursday.

Bucknell nearly found an equalizer right on the hour mark, when Kasper Piela forced a tough save from Jackson Lee at the near post, and then Cade McGrath's clean header skipped wide on the resulting corner kick.

West Virginia doubled its lead in the 74th minute when Thomas Decottignies' long cross was headed home by Yutaro Tsukada.

Bucknell's best chance of the night game with about six minutes to play. Jakub Samelko blew by his defender on the right wing and pulled a pass back to Marco Valentic at the top of the box. Valentic turned his man and fired a curling shot that beat the keeper but just sailed over the bar.

Freddie Lapworth was credited with five saves in his first start of the season, including a nifty quick-reaction save on Tsukada's second-half header. Bison head coach Dave Brandt used 21 players in the game.

Neither goalkeeper was severely tested in the first half, although Caldeira struck the crossbar with a turning shot with six minutes remaining. Lee's lone first-half save came at close range on McGrath, as the Bison looked to capitalize on a WVU giveaway in the back.

After playing its first two games of the season away from home, the Bison will play their next two at home at Emmitt Field. Robert Morris comes in for the home opener on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by George Mason one week later.