Mountaineers host WVU Tech in final game of spring season

In its last exhibition game of the spring season, the West Virginia men’s soccer team faces the West Virginia University Tech Golden Bears. The game is scheduled for Saturday at noon, while the Alumni Game follows on Sunday at noon

WVU Tech finished its 2011 season with a 10-5-3 record, earning the best season in men’s soccer program history.

"I want to score some goals," said senior forward Peabo Doue. "We haven’t scored a goal this spring and looking at the program, it’s pretty frustrating. That’s not the type of team we are. Hopefully, we can string some stuff together and produce goals and finish off strong."

Even with the results being meaningless, it would be important to get a couple of goals and a possible win to end the spring season. WVU has not scored a goal this spring exhibition season, and it has yet to earn its first victory.

After a game of nine shots, one goal and 15 corner kicks, the Mountaineers will be looking for some offensive firepower against WVU Tech. WVU is without very many starters from last year’s lineup, such as senior midfielder Shadow Sebele and sophomore forward Andy Bevin.

Senior midfielder Travis Pittman and sophomore defender Paul Ehrenworth have also been dealing with injuries.

"We’re missing a lot of people," said head coach Marlon LeBlanc. "However, that doesn’t reduce our standards of what guys should be able to do. When you don’t have a full group to train with, it makes it very difficult to implement things in the spring."

Pittman has been dealing with an illness, but should be back for Saturday’s game.

"I’m struggling with a little sickness right now, but I should be back," he said. "I hope to finish the spring season strong and get as many goals as we can. It’s huge to get the younger guys to develop. Before, freshmen really didn’t get to play in the spring, so hopefully they can keep working hard in the spring up until the fall."

So far in this spring exhibition season, WVU has gotten close on many occasions to getting goals. Being able to capitalize on these chances is what will be important for the Mountaineers Saturday.

In the game against Slippery Rock Sunday night, West Virginia was dominant throughout but didn’t capitalize on the 15 corner kicks and nine shots on goal.

In this last spring season game, scoring goals seems to be the main outlook of the team. Obviously, injury prevention and the continuing improvement for the fall are just as important.

As the players get more comfortable with that game mentality, the Mountaineers look to finish the exhibition season on a strong note Saturday.