The Backyard Brawl returns this week, but in more than one fashion. On Monday at 7 p.m., the No. 6 West Virginia men’s soccer team will be traveling to Pittsburgh to take on the No. 7 ranked Panthers.
In 2021, the two old rivals both had historic seasons, as both the Mountaineers and the Panthers made the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
West Virginia (1-0-0), is coming off a home victory Thursday night against Robert Morris, in which the Mountaineers took down the Colonials by the score of 1-0.
Pitt (1-0-0), picked up a big 2-1 win over No. 2 Georgetown on Thursday night. The No. 2 ranked Hoyas defeated the Mountaineers in the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Despite giving up a goal in the fifth minute, the Panthers responded with a goal on the ensuing kickoff to tie the Hoyas. Pitt took control of the match with a goal minutes later and took down Georgetown at home.
Two of Pitt’s top players in 2021 have returned and got off to quick starts on Thursday.
Bertin Jacquesson, who registered a team-high seven goals and 11 assists last season, scored the game-tying goal and assisted on the game-winner.
Valentine Noel, who was also atop Pitt’s scoring leaders last season, scored the game-winning goal on a perfect feed from Jacquesson.
These two playmakers have experience and are already hot in the young season, so look for them to bring the pressure to the Mountaineers.
As for West Virginia, it was a newcomer that led the way for the Mountaineers in their Thursday night win.
Yutaro Tsukada, who played for Daytona State College last season, netted the lone goal for the Mountaineers in his first game at Dick Dlesk Stadium.
Coming off the bench for the Mountaineers and providing an assist on the Tsukada goal was Luke McCormick. McCormick, who posted three goals and four assists in 2021, has been working his way back from a preseason injury.
“We’re still working him back in, still building up his fitness,” WVU head coach Dan Stratford said after the win over Robert Morris. “I thought he gave us the lift we needed. He’s one of the few that I’m really relieved that we had him available.”
Another player that could throw a wrench in Pitt’s plans of starting 2-0 is Ciro Ryan Crooks. In 2021, Crooks scored two goals while posting four assists. In the win against Robert Morris, Crooks had a tough header in front of the net that was barely rejected by Robert Morris’s keeper.
No matter who steps up, it’s sure that this match will be a battle, as both teams try to stay atop the standings and make another run in the NCAA Tournament.
