West Virginia 1, No. 22 Virginia 0
The evidence of the bruising season-opener was there to see on Eric Schoenle’s head.
But while his punishment was inflicted by the grass turf at Maryland SoccerPlex, it was indicative of the hard tackles and physical challenges that epitomized West Virginia’s 1-0 upset of No. 22 Virginia at Maryland SoccerPlex.
Schoenle, the Mountaineers junior center back, walked away with the game’s only goal but also a bulging, egg-shaped bruise on the right side of his forehead as collateral damage suffered as he scored on a diving header in the final minute of the first half on a corner kick from teammate Shadow Sebele.
“Shadow played a perfect ball, and I just dove, headed it in, and as I landed, after my chest it, my head just snapped down and hit the ground,” Schoenle said. “After that, I kind of blacked out for a little bit. But I saw the ball go into the net so the pain wasn’t really a factor. I was just happy I scored.”
The Cavaliers (0-1), who were without their most decorated player, preseason All-American and U.S. under-20 midfielder Brian Ownby, and then lost senior midfielder Hunter Jumper to a pair of yellow cards in the first 11 minutes of the second half and were forced to play the remainder of the contest down a man. With him or without, crunching tackles prevailed over possession – West Virginia midfielder and D.C. United academy product Travis Pittman fell victim repeatedly.
“West Virginia is easily the most athletic team we’ll this season, and we didn’t deal with that well,” Cavaliers head coach George Gelnovatch said, “particularly in the first and especially with a couple of guys out.”
Asked about Ownby, Gelnovatch offered no specifics.
“We’re just being cautious with him, his history of getting banged up,” Gelnovatch said. “He’ll be ready to go by next weekend.”
Schoenle, who has also been part of the U.S. under-20 pool, spent the second half on the bench with an icepack on his head. The Mountaineers (1-0) could’ve used him to mark Eric Bird, who hit the post with a potential equalizing header in the 66th minute, but Virginia generated little offense.
“The kid’s big-time, and he was big-time before the goal,” Moutaineers coach Marlon LeBlanc said of Schoenle. “I don’t like playing without him, but I thought our guys did a good job of adjusting without him. For me, Eric Schoenle’s the best center back in America.”
