Men's Soccer: WVU Earns Road Shutout

By Grant Dovey for WVUsports.com
October 26, 2011 08:47 PM

Travis Pittman

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Goals from forward Andy Bevin and midfielder Travis Pittman led the No. 18 West Virginia men’s soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Seton Hall on Wednesday evening at Owen T. Carroll Field.

"It was a great effort from the team with a couple of first time starters," coach Marlon LeBlanc says. "We had to go in and win. It's an important three points for us and another road win."

Pittman scored the game-winning goal by successfully converting a penalty kick in the 42nd minute to give the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead. Seton Hall’s Christian Battistesa was called for a hand ball inside the box after a free kick by midfielder Allan Flott on the left side of the field. Defender Eric Schoenle played a dummy ball letting Flott’s free kick through and the ball bounced off Battistesa for the penalty.

Bevin added the insurance goal in the 61st minute after a long through ball by forward Jay Williams. Bevin gathered the ball, raced past the Pirate defenders and buried it past Seton Hall keeper Anthony Reichwaldt for his team-leading seventh goal of the season.

The majority of the match was played in the midfield with WVU outshooting the Pirates 10-8, including a 6-1 advantage on shots on-goal.

The first half was played in the midfield with the only shot on-goal in the run of play coming from Bevin in the 20th minute that Reichwaldt gathered with ease.

Forward Nick Claudio nearly had his second goal in as many games to start the second half when he received a pass from Bevin on the end line out to the top of the 18 yard box. Claudio ripped a shot that spun just wide left of the net.

The Mountaineers almost extended the lead to three in the 75th minute when forward Peabo Doue played a cross to forward Franck Tayou. Tayou took a half-bicycle kick that flew just over the crossbar and out of play.

Doue had a quality chance of his own in the 80th minute when he ripped a liner that Reichwaldt made a save on.

Claudio had another chance in the 87th minute and Reichwaldt made a diving save to his left.

Keeper Pat Eavenson earned his second shutout of the season, making one save, and improved his record to 3-2-0. Reichwaldt finished with four saves for Seton Hall and dropped his recorded to 2-3-1.

WVU will finish the regular season with a match at No. 14 Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 29, at noon. The Irish were in action this afternoon and played a 2-1 victory at Providence.

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