WVU Men’s Soccer (1-1-1) walked into UNCG Soccer Stadium on Friday and walked out with a 1-1 draw against the No. 21 Spartans (1-0-2). It was not pretty for long stretches, nor was it a win. It was the kind of result that tells you something about a team still trying to figure itself out. Read more: Mountaineers grind out 1-1 draw at No. 21 UNCG.
Pozos puts WVU in front early
The Mountaineers actually started on the better side. At 15:50, Jacob Redenfors let one fly and Pablo Pozos stuck a foot on it, redirecting the ball into the net. Just like that, WVU led 1-0. Pozos has that knack. You do not always see the run coming, and then the ball is in the back of the net.
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UNCG responded quickly. Keaviano Francis finished a pass from Lasse Dahl, and the score was 1-1 before the 25-minute mark. From there, both teams mostly canceled each other out through the break. Shots were even at three apiece at halftime, and West Virginia held a 3-1 edge in corners. Neither side looked ready to take over.
A late stop preserves the point
The second half felt like two teams waiting for a mistake. They battled, they fouled, they chased. Then, with just over 12 minutes left, Pablo Torre got in behind.
It looked like the kind of breakaway that ends these matches. Civan De Jesus Ferreira had other ideas. He made a big stop to keep things even.
By the end, the numbers backed up what it felt like on the pitch. West Virginia outshot UNCG, 12-8, and put four shots on goal to the Spartans’ one. The Mountaineers also owned the corners, 8-4. They created more opportunities, but were unable to find a second goal.
That was the story, really.
WVU did not dominate in the way the final shot chart suggests, but they did not collapse, either. They went on the road against a ranked team, scored first, got punched back, and found a way not to lose. After dropping the opener at Charlotte and grinding out a 1-0 win over St. Bonaventure at home, this felt like another small step.
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Pozos’ goal will be remembered as the highlight, but Ferreira’s save might have been the more important play. Redenfors putting himself in position to create the first goal mattered, too. Those are the details that add up when you are still early in the season and nobody has you ranked anymore.
A point on the road against No. 21 is not for nothing, especially when the team can win the shot battle that clearly. The Mountaineers will take it, pack up, and get ready for another ranked opponent in Akron at home. They have shown they can create chances and defend when it matters. Now they have to turn nights like this into wins. Friday was a start, and a hint of what WVU squads from recent years brought to the table.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Up next for the Mountaineers
The Mountaineers turn their attention to Akron, as they will face the Zips on September 3 at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. from Morgantown.
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