WVU Mountaineer Sports: Basketball | Football | News |Men's Soccer: No. 8 WVU Falls at No. 6 UCSB

The No. 8 West Virginia University men'ssoccer team fell 2-0 at No. 6 UC Santa Barbara in front
of 3,136 fans on Fridayevening at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara,
Calif.

David Opoku got the Gauchos on the board inthe 22nd minute off a corner
kick from Sam Garza. Opoku crept upunmarked and got a header on it past
goalkeeper Pat Eavenson on the near sideof the net.

Despite having the better play in the opening20 minutes of the second
half, the Gauchos struck again with an insurance goalin the 64th minute
when Luis Silva chipped a ball from about 19yards out over a challenging
Eavenson.

Josue Madueno started the play running downthe right side and passing
off to Dom Sarle. At that point Eavenson came out tochallenge Sarle, who
lost the ball, regained control and passed it to Silva inthe middle of
the field.

West Virginia's second half opportunitiesstarted with a corner kick by
midfielder Travis Pittman in the 54thminute that midfielder Matt Drake
tried to hit out of mid-air. A Gauchodefender was able to get to the
loose ball and clear it out of the zone.

One minute later midfielder Shadow Sebele hada corner from the other
side of the field that got to forward Peabo Doue whohad a shot blocked
after settling the ball out of mid-air.

WVU finished with four shots compared toUCSB's nine shots, while the
corner kick total was tied at 4-4. Eavenson made threesaves for the
Mountaineers, while Andre Grandt did not have to make a save inthe
shutout effort.

UCSB opened the evening with offensivepressure from James Kiffe who had
a shot in the first minute that went toEavenson's right and a free kick
in the third minute that went wide left.

WVU was able to draw three consecutive cornerkicks in the 12th minute,
but were unable to get a shot off.

After a shot from Sebele was blocked in the22nd minute, Drake took a
shot from about 25 yards out in the 25thminute that went just wide right
of the Gaucho goal. Drake had identical shotin the 33rd minute for WVU's
second of the evening.

Drake led the Mountaineers with two shots,while Sebele and Gaddis each
had one. Kiffe led the Gauchos with three shots,while Opoku and Silva
had two apiece.

Defender Eric Schoenle made the defensiveplay of the game after an Opoku
shot went wide in the 36th minuteand somehow made it back on the goal
line, where Schoenle was able to clear itout of harm's way.

The Mountaineers return to action onSunday, Sept. 11, in San
Luis Obispo, Calif., against Cal Poly. Kickoff atSpanos Stadium is
schedule for 4 p.m.