MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The No. 4 West Virginia men’s soccer team (8-1-2) looks to earn its ninth win of the season as it hosts nonconference opponent American University (5-6-1) on Monday night.
The Mountaineers are coming off a 2-1 road victory over Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina. Senior midfielder Ethan Dekel Daks and star forward Marcus Caldeira each scored to lead WVU to a 4-0 record in Sun Belt Conference play.
American enters after defeating Patriot League foe Lehigh 3-1. Mustapha Sowe, Taku Takahashi, and Kobe Keomany each found the back of the net for the Eagles, who improved to 4-1 in conference play.
West Virginia will look to protect Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, where it has been dominant this season, losing just once and drawing once. The Mountaineers aim for their fifth home victory of the year.
The Eagles have struggled on the road, winning just once away from Washington, D.C. That lone victory came in a 1-0 result against Loyola Maryland.
With only six games remaining in the regular season, WVU has its sights set on the Sun Belt regular-season title, while American continues its pursuit of a Patriot League crown.
In the latest RPI rankings, the Mountaineers sit at No. 12 nationally, while the Eagles are ranked 73rd. In the United Soccer Coaches Poll, WVU ranks fourth, trailing only Stanford, Vermont, and Bryant.
The Mountaineers achieved the highest ranking in program history last season, reaching No. 1 in the nation last September. WVU also earned a No. 2 ranking twice during the 2023 campaign.
Monday’s match marks the final nonconference contest of the regular season for the Mountaineers, who will face only conference opponents the rest of the way.
U92 The Moose will provide live coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. with pregame analysis from RJ Rice, Stella Reyes, Curtis Shinn, and John Doucette. Play-by-play commentator, U92 Sports Producer Nico Caretto, and analyst Ben Stautzenbach will have the call from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14. The broadcast can be heard locally and online at U92TheMoose.com, 91.7 FM in the Morgantown Area, The Tune In App, and an Alexa At Home Device.