Men's Soccer Holds Off West Virginia, 1-0

Oct. 11, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's soccer team scored late in the first half en route to a 1-0 victory over West Virginia Saturday afternoon in a BIG EAST Conference match played at Glay Field. With the win, the Friars improved to 5-4-3 overall, including a 3-4-1 mark in BIG EAST play. The Mountaineers fell to 3-5-4 and 2-2-3 in the league. It marked PC's first win over West Virginia since 2003.

Providence controlled much of the first half and held an 11-3 margin in shots as well as a 7-1 edge in corner kicks through the first 45 minutes. The Friars broke through in the 41st minute as freshman Chris Stoker (Holden, Mass.) scored his first career goal. Junior A.J. Brown (Fort Myers, Fla.), who was making his first career start, set up the goal as he sent a 40-yard cross from the right side and Stoker was able to head the ball into the lower left corner of the net to give PC a 1-0 lead. The Friars had a chance to increase their lead in the 44th minute as senior Ryan Maduro (Bristol, R.I.) dribbled around two defenders, before he was taken down in the box and the referee signaled for a penalty kick. Junior Justin Kahle (Oceanport, N.J.) took the penalty kick, but West Virginia goalkeeper Zach Johnson made the save with his right foot to keep the score 1-0 at the halftime whistle.

The Mountaineers pushed forward in the second half and created more scoring chances. West Virginia outshot the Friars, 9-6, in the second half and nearly evened the score in the 48th minute. Troy Lindroos ripped a volley from 30 yards out that was aimed at the upper right corner, but PC goalkeeper Timothy Murray (Haverhill, Mass.) dove and pushed the ball aside with his left hand. However, the ball glanced off the right post and back in play to Mo Travis who fired another shot but Murray was there again to make a diving save.

The Friars responded in the 51st minute. Senior Michael Narciso (Livingston, N.J.) set up sophomore Matt Marcin (Wilmington, Del.) right in front but Marcin's shot from five yards out hit the cross bar. The rebound came right back to Marcin who then fired another shot that missed just wide. However, the Friars were able to hold off the Mountaineers the rest of the way and earn their second consecutive victory.

Murray made six saves to earn his seventh clean sheet of the season and the 15th of his career. Johnson also stopped six shots for West Virginia.

Providence is back in action on Wednesday, October 15 with a non-conference home match against Bryant University, beginning at 3:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

A.J. Brown

Justin Kahle

Ryan Maduro

Matt Marcin

Timothy Murray

Michael Narciso

Chris Stoker

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