For over 1000 days, the WVU men’s soccer team was unbeatable at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Gardner-Webb ended the multi-season streak on Wednesday night with a 1-0 win. Read more: The Anatomy of a Streak
How it Started
The Mountaineers fell at home to the Yale Bulldogs on September 9th, 2022. That night, Yale escaped Morgantown with a 2-1 victory. This would be the last time WVU tasted defeat at home for nearly three years.
Following the loss to Yale, the Mountaineers tore off 32 consecutive matches without losing at home. During the unbeaten stretch, WVU went 22-0-10.
By the Numbers
In the 32-match streak, West Virginia relied on a potent offense and admirable defensive efforts. The Mountaineers outscored opponents 67-25, averaging over two goals per outing.
Defensively, WVU held opponents scoreless in 16 of the 32 matches.
Not only did the Mountaineers thrive on the pitch, but the box office thrived, too. Dlesk Soccer Stadium welcomed multiple beyond-capacity crowds during the stretch of matches.
In fact, the current attendance record was set on November 17th, 2024, when WVU won its first Sun Belt Tournament Championship. The Mountaineers won via penalty kicks against their in-state rival, Marshall. 3,162 fans flocked to the pitch to witness program history.
Related: Keys to the Game – Ohio University
How it Ended
After winning the first two home matches of the 2025 season, the streak came to an end on September 3rd. #13 Gardner-Webb shocked a crowd of 1,416, primarily consisting of the Mountaineer faithful. The Fightin’ Bulldogs’ goal came in the 14th minute by way of Tiago Campos.
The loss wasn’t due to a lack of opportunities, however. WVU was only outshot by two, racking up eight total shots. Three of the eight shots were tallied on goal, but Gardner-Webb goalkeeper Alan Horrocks recorded the shutout.
WVU’s Marc Bonnaire allowed the lone goal, but collected four saves in the full-match performance. Gardner-Webb remains undefeated in 2025 thanks to the 1-0 win over the Mountaineers.
Starting Over
Despite the loss, WVU is still an intimidating squad, especially at home. The streak might be over, but the season is not.
The Mountaineers will go on the road to face yet another ranked program on Sunday. #22 George Mason will welcome West Virginia in a high-stakes, non-conference affair.
The quest for a new home winning streak will have to wait until September 12th, when WVU is back home. California Baptist will be the first visitor at Dlesk Soccer Stadium since the landmark loss.
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