Twice, West Virginia managed to overcome a deficit against Marshall in the Sun Belt semifinals. But the Mountaineers couldn’t come from behind a third time.
After forcing overtime for the second straight game, West Virginia conceded a handball in the box 36 seconds from time, giving Marshall a chance to win the game from the penalty spot. Marshall’s Joao Alves converted the chance, and the Mountaineers didn’t have time to counter, as the Thundering Herd knocked the Mountaineers out of the Sun Belt tournament with a 3-2 double overtime win on Wednesday in Morgantown.
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Marshall’s win marked its first-ever triumph at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, as well as a stunning reversal of round one of the Mountain State Derby. In that game, a 3-0 West Virginia win, the Mountaineers held the Herd to just six shots, with only two on frame.
Not this time. Marshall (11-2-5) learned from its timid play in the first meeting and forced the issue. West Virginia (12-4-3) still outshot the Herd 18-11, but Marshall put eight of its shots on frame, forcing Mark Bonnaire into action several times.
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The Herd also played a much more physical game this time, with the teams combining for 43 fouls. In the first meeting, West Virginia consistently put itself into good positions, and Marshall’s lack of aggression cost it. This time, both teams were up to the challenge, resulting in little space available and plenty of whistles.
Mountaineers never gained the front foot
West Virginia came off a survival against Old Dominion, but the Thundering Herd are far more dangerous than the Monarchs. Marshall actually sits higher in the rankings than West Virginia, making it clear this would be no easy task.
Conceding the first goal in the second half put the Mountaineers in a tough spot. It’s never easy to play from behind, as the team in front can often dictate the terms. While West Virginia quickly responded to Marshall’s first two goals, the effort takes a lot of a team, both mentally and physically.
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Isaac Scheer got West Virginia’s first marker in the 53rd minute, taking a feed from Constantinos Christou to level the match after Carl Romberg opened the scoring. Marcus Caldeira struck in the 66th minute for his 10th goal of the season, setting the match up to reach the extra session.
But West Virginia never had a moment where it could control the run of play. When you carry that weight for consecutive matches, it weighs on you.
Mountaineers await their fate
West Virginia missed a chance to host the Sun Belt tournament final, as top seed Kentucky also fell. The Wildcats lost 1-0 to No. 5 seed UCF, which would have sent the Knights to Morgantown had West Virginia survived. Instead, Marshall will now host the Sun Belt championship against UCF on Sunday.
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Ironically, by losing to Marshall, West Virginia ensured it would not take a bad loss in the Sun Belt tournament. The Thundering Herd sit 13th in the RPI, four spots ahead of WVU. The Mountaineers now face a nervous wait until Monday’s selection show to see if they’ll be one of the top 16 seeds and get a first-round bye.
West Virginia’s biggest worry comes out of the Big East. The Mountaineers are likely in a competition with Seton Hall and Georgetown for one of the final byes. The Pirates didn’t qualify for the Big East tournament, but the Hoyas won the top seed in the four-team event. The Mountaineers’ best friend right now is Providence, as the Friars would likely knock Georgetown out of the race for a first-round bye if they can upset the Hoyas tonight.
There is reason for WVU fans to be hopeful. Providence and Georgetown ended the season against each other, splitting the points in a 2-2 draw in Rhode Island.
