WVU Takes Down Marshall in Soccer Battle for State, National Supremacy

In a battle for state and soccer supremacy, WVU men’s soccer beat Marshall in convincing fashion on Wednesday night.

A match that was hyped up for weeks was only close for awhile. The Mountaineers eventually pulled away and took over the pitch, winning 5-2 in their best offensive performance of the season.

Only one team was going to be able to end their night still undefeated, and that team is the West Virginia Mountaineers. And while head coach Dan Stratford would surely accept any victory over a rival that owns the nation’s number one ranking, WVU won in a way that makes an argument of their own as college soccer’s best team.

West Virginia fans may also remember this game as an historic one from an individual perspective too. Sophomore forward Marcus Caldeira netted the first hat trick for a WVU player since 2014.

🎩 🎩 🎩

The first hat trick for a Mountaineer since 2014!#HailWV pic.twitter.com/1dDwLwpZAy

— WVU Men's Soccer (@WVUMensSoccer) October 19, 2023

Freshman midfielder Constantinos Christou scored his first career goal. Sergio Ors Navarro also kicked one by Marshall’s keeper.

KEEP IT COMING!!!

Constantinos with his first-career goal to make it 5-2!#HailWV pic.twitter.com/FsUEgZuXgO

— WVU Men's Soccer (@WVUMensSoccer) October 19, 2023

The only other time WVU even scored four goals in a game this season was on Sept. 30 against Georgia State. West Virginia

Stratford talked about the significance of two teams who share a state and are both ranked at the top of the country facing off this late in the season during his media session earlier in the week.

The big match set a WVU soccer attendance record.

Next up for the Mountaineers is a match in Conway, South Carolina with Coastal Carolina on Sunday at 7 pm ET.