Number three ranked West Virginia started their season off with a win at home Thursday night against Purdue Fort Wayne. The Mountaineers got out to an early 3-0 lead in the first half and never looked back, winning with a final score of 4-2.
To get the scoring started, Sergio Ors Navarro netted a goal in the 8th minute off an assist from Simon Carlson. It would only take nine more minutes before Ors Navarro would find the back of the net again, this time unassisted to give WVU a 2-0 lead.
Ors Navarro’s third goal to complete the hat trick came in the 29th minute off another assist from Carlson, his second of the game. The hat trick was the first career hat trick for Ors Navarro who said after the game he never once scored a hat trick in his life at any level of soccer.
The forward from Spain’s previous career high was two goals scored on the raod against Marshall last season. Just one game in to the 2024 campaign, that has already been broken.
The second half was a little slower for the Mountaineers who allowed two goals in the 74th and 80th minutes. However, WVU’s Felix Ewald score a goal between the two, resulting in a 4-2 final score. Ewald’s goal was unassisted.
After a College Cup appearance a season ago, the Mountaineers came out ready to put together an even more impressive season. To make the win more impressive, WVU scored four goals without one of the country’s best strikers, junior Marcus Caldeira, who finished last season with an incredible 12 goals before being drafted 20th overall in the MLS Draft.
With a new rule in place, Caldeira is eligible to continue to play in college after being draft to continue develop before playing in the league. WVU Head Coach Dan Stratford said after the game Caleira is close to returning with an ankle injury.
WVU’s next game is home against Saint Francis on Mon. Aug, 26 at 7:00 p.m. The game can be viewed on ESPN+
