West Virginia rolls to 4-0 victory over La Salle at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium
West Virginia wasted little time setting the tone in Monday night’s season opener at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, cruising past La Salle 4-0 to move to 2-0 on the young season. The Mountaineers dominated from the opening whistle, outshooting the Explorers 26-4 and posting their first clean sheet of the year.
Marcus Caldeira struck first in the ninth minute and closed out the scoring with a second goal late in the match, giving him a brace. Thijs Veldhorst added a goal just before halftime to push the lead to 2-0, and freshman Bryce Swinehart capped the scoring with his first career goal midway through the second half.
Defensively, WVU controlled the game, while La Salle pressed the issue, getting 10 saves from keeper Tino Kneis. The Mountaineers’ own keeper, Marc Bonnaire, was untested beyond two saves as WVU kept La Salle off the scoreboard. The Explorers were also dealt a setback when a first-half red card left them a man down for the remainder of the match.
Looking ahead, WVU returns home next Wednesday, September 3, to host Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m.
Postgame notes and takeaways:
– Caldeira with a brace; Veldhorst and Swinehart also contributed to the scoring.
– WVU tallies 26 shots to La Salle’s 4, demonstrating offensive efficiency.
– Bonnaire recorded two saves for the shutout; Kneis made 10 saves for La Salle.
– La Salle was reduced to 10 men after a first-half red card.
– WVU starts the season 2-0 and will seek to extend the winning run against Gardner-Webb.
Summary: The Mountaineers showcased a potent attack and solid defense, building early-season momentum with a clear 4-0 win and a clean sheet in their home opener. The team’s performance signals strong potential as they head into a home matchup against Gardner-Webb. Positive outlook remains supported by balanced contributions from Caldeira, Veldhorst, and Swinehart.