2021 Season Preview

DAN STRATFORD

A new era is on the horizon for the West Virginia University men’s soccer team, as Dan Stratford, the program’s 10th head coach is prepared to begin his tenure after more than a year of waiting his turn.

Stratford, fresh off his second NCAA Division II National Championship in three years at the University of Charleston, was hired to lead his alma mater in January 2020. However, his chance to show off his team to Mountaineer Nation comes more than a year after his hiring due to the delay of fall sports Mid-American Conference because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mountaineers were able to make the most of an unusual fall, competing in six intersquad scrimmages to make up the time they would normally spend competing on the national level. Those six scrimmages gave the Mountaineers the much-needed opportunity to bond as a team, with a new head coach and 12 newcomers on the roster. “When the guys returned in August, we knew almost immediately that we wouldn’t be having a regular season in the fall,” Stratford said. “To an extent, we have been working toward the beginning of our season since August. We were really pleased with what we were able to achieve during that period of time. The six intersquad games gave us the opportunity to see the team in an 11 vs. 11 format, in our kits and on our home field, which was very important. Hopefully, when we reach our first game this season, it’s not all brand new to them.”

Stratford’s inaugural season follows a celebrated postseason run for the Mountaineers in 2019. West Virginia claimed its first MAC Tournament championship and made its 14th NCAA Tournament appearance, advancing to the Second Round for the second consecutive season and eighth time ever. Despite the departure of seven seniors who led the squad last season, the Mountaineers are optimistic that they can carry on the successes they enjoyed late in 2019. West Virginia returns seven players who saw action in at least nine matches in 2019, including five who scored at least one goal. Members of WVU’s 24-man roster hail from seven different states and six different countries. Most notable is the squad’s West Virginia roots, as four student-athletes hail from the Mountain State.

Standout goalkeeper Steven Tekesky returns to Morgantown for his senior campaign, ranking No. 4 in program history with 27 wins, No. 5 with 4,658 minutes played and No. 6 in starts (5), saves (164), shutouts (14) and goals-against average (1.29). Tekesky was named the 2019 MAC Tournament MVP and was joined by returners Josh DiMatteo and Luke McCormick on the MAC All-Tournament Team.

WVU’s 2021, 12-match slate features a double round-robin MAC schedule, as well as nonconference matchups against Charlotte and

Marshall, both of which are coming off NCAA Tournament berths last season. After a season-opening road contest at Charlotte on Feb. 26, the Mountaineers return home for their first match at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium since Nov. 7, 2019, to open conference play against Northern Illinois (March 6).

West Virginia travels to Western Michigan (March 14) for its first conference road contest, before returning home to host Bowling Green (March 17). A trip to SIU-Edwardsville awaits WVU on March 21, followed by a mid-season, nonconference bout against in-state foe Marshall (March 24). The Mountaineers are back on the road to face Bowling Green (March 28), before a pair of home contests against Akron (March 31) and Western Michigan (April 4). West Virginia’s final road trip of the season is at Akron on April 7, before capping the regular season against SIU-Edwardsville on April 18.

There’s no doubt that many challenges await the Mountaineers this spring, but with a game-bygame approach on the backs of a new coaching staff and a trio of senior captains, West Virginia is primed to make 2021 another memorable season.

“You constantly want your players to be looking to improve. What we haven’t had, and what will be a vital part of that process for this team, are games,” Stratford said. “To have the opportunity to go on the road and win a big game will do incredible things for the spirit of this team and the morale of this group after an uncharacteristically quiet fall.”

POSITION-BY-POSITION BREAKDOWN

Goalkeepers

The Mountaineers have had a plethora of talented netminders manning the back for years and 2021 should be no different. Tekesky returns for his fourth season as the Mountaineers’ starting keeper after finishing No. 14 nationally in minutes played (1,936) and No. 2 in the MAC with six shutouts last season.

Along with the senior, all-conference performer in goal, redshirt sophomore Jacob Castro and freshman Marc Bonnaire are waiting in the wings for the Old Gold and Blue. They are studying hard under Tekesky and training constantly to remain ready to take over whenever called upon.

Defenders

In front of Tekesky, senior Kevin Morris returns as the leader of a young Mountaineer back line. The Mt. Airy, Maryland, native started all 21 matches in 2019 and helped WVU post six shutouts in 1,928 minutes played, which ranks No. 6 in single-season program history.

This season, Morgantown native Elijah Borneo joins the Mountaineer defense after beginning his career at Kentucky, bringing with him two years of Division I playing experience with the Wildcats. Holding down the back with Morris and Borneo are redshirt freshman Sergio Ors Navarro and freshman Jesus De Vicente, who both came over from Spain to play for WVU.

Also strengthening the Mountaineer back line are Aaron Denk Gracia, Dyon Dromers, Kyle Lehnert, Nicholas Manno and Bjarne Thiesen.

Midfielders

While the Mountaineers will be showcasing their young talent in the defensive third, there are a few more familiar faces in the midfield. Senior Pau Jimenez Albelda and sophomore Luke McCormick will return to the lineup after playing a combined 2,861 minutes in 2019. Albelda will miss the first half of the season due to an injury, but junior Ike Swiger, a Fairmont, W.Va., native, has joined the fold in 2021 to help fill the position.

Redshirt freshman Ryan Baer will play alongside Swiger in the center of midfield, while Nic Short returns for his senior season in Morgantown. Sam Morgan, Ryan Crooks and Aden Slifer also add depth to West Virginia’s talented midfield this season.

Forwards

The Mountaineer attack will be spearheaded by juniors Josh DiMatteo and Tony Pineda. Last season, DiMatteo played 1,025 minutes, put 13 shots on goal and tallied four goals and an assist. His striking partner Pineda played in 21 matches last season, while assisting on four goals and putting two of his 10 shots in the back of the net.

Freshman Ciro Bourlot Jaeggi and Morgantown native Joseph Biafora also will be helping their fellow Mountaineers pick apart opponents’ backlines in 2019.

On the heels of an unusual fall semester, West Virginia brings along a new head coach, experienced veterans and a crop of talented newcomers into the 2021 spring season, poised for what lies ahead, ready to take on anything that stands between them and a season of excellence.