The men’s soccer team at West Virginia University concluded its season with a defeat to the University of Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 24. This tournament match represented the Mountaineers’ second defeat for the season, bringing an end to a strong 2024 campaign. The season commenced with a series […]
The men’s soccer team at West Virginia University concluded its season with a defeat to the University of Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 24.
This tournament match represented the Mountaineers’ second defeat for the season, bringing an end to a strong 2024 campaign.
The season commenced with a series of six non-conference matches running from August to the end of September. WVU achieved a 4-0-2 record, outpacing all rivals by nine goals. Fifth-year forward Sergio Ors Navarro displayed impressive performance in the opening six matches, scoring eight goals and earning Sun Belt Player of the Week honors on Aug. 27.
In the initial two non-conference matches against the University of Purdue Fort Wayne and Saint Francis University, the Mountaineers conceded two goals while netting eight. Ors Navarro contributed five goals over these matches.
After embarking on Sun Belt Conference play, WVU managed five consecutive matches without a loss, securing three victories. In the final two games of the Mountaineers’ non-conference schedule, junior forward Marcus Caldeira found the net three times.
The winning streak came to a halt in October as the Mountaineers faced the University of Dayton Flyers, who handed WVU its sole regular-season loss, finishing the match at 5-1.
The squad rebounded from the setback, triumphing in their next two games against the University of South Carolina and Georgia State University. The Mountaineers continued to collect wins throughout the regular season.
In their regular season finale, WVU made the trip to Huntington, West Virginia, to face their in-state rival Marshall University, with the Sun Belt regular season title at stake. To clinch the championship, the Mountaineers needed a draw.
In a match that ended without scores, redshirt senior goalkeeper Marc Bonnaire made three saves to maintain a clean sheet, securing the Sun Belt Regular season championship with a 0-0 scoreline.
This regular season title ensured that the Mountaineers earned the top seed and home field advantage in the Sun Belt Tournament.
In the first round, WVU found itself down by two goals in the first half against Georgia Southern University. A swift goal from Caldeira at the end of the half and two second-half goals from Ors Navarro and senior defender Carlos Hernando resulted in a 3-2 victory, propelling WVU to the tournament’s second round.
The Mountaineers then faced the University of Kentucky, a team they had never defeated in their program’s history.
Kentucky scored first in the semifinals, but both Ors Navarro and Hernando responded with goals, leading to a 2-1 victory and a place in the Sun Belt Championship, where they would again meet the Thundering Herd.
The 2024 Sun Belt Championship contest was a rematch of the 2023 season finale, which had seen WVU lose to Marshall.
The two squads remained scoreless after 110 minutes of play, leading to a penalty shootout. The shootout commenced with 11 flawless shots until Marshall missed, with Bonnaire blocking the shot to clinch victory for the Mountaineers.
After the Sun Belt Tournament, the Mountaineers focused their attention on the NCAA Tournament, hosting the University of North Florida in the first round.
With contributions from Ors Navarro and Caldeira, they secured a 2-1 win, moving on to face the University of Virginia in the second round.
A quick goal from Caldeira within the first three minutes energized the team, but two goals from the Cavaliers left the Mountaineers trailing, ultimately concluding their season.
The WVU men’s soccer team wrapped up the year undefeated in conference play, holding a 13-2-7 record at home. The Mountaineers crowned their achievements as double champions of the Sun Belt Conference.
