West Virginia and Marshall Set for Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Championship Showdown
NEW ORLEANS – In an exciting rematch, the 2024 Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Championship will see No. 10-ranked West Virginia take on eighth-ranked Marshall for the second consecutive season. As the top seed, West Virginia (12-1-6) will aim for redemption against the second-seeded Thundering Herd (11-1-6), who secured their last victory over the Mountaineers in last year’s championship.
West Virginia enters the championship with a strong season record, finishing at the top of the regular season with 19 points and a 5-0-4 lineup. The teams last faced off in a regular-season match that ended in a 0-0 draw, but West Virginia holds the all-time advantage over Marshall at 17-8-2.
To reach the finals, West Virginia overcame No. 8-seeded Georgia Southern with a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory in the quarterfinals, thanks to goals from Marcus Caldeira, Sergio Ors Navarro, and Carlos Hernando. In the semifinals, they again fought back from an early deficit against No. 4-seeded Kentucky, finishing with a 2-1 win highlighted by goals from Ors Navarro and Hernando.
Marshall, seeking to defend their title, has also showcased resilience in the tournament. They began their journey with a narrow 3-2 victory over No. 7-seeded Old Dominion, followed by a tense 1-0 win against No. 6-seeded James Madison, which included a red card that left them a player down.
Now, the stage is set for the Mountain State Derby—an intense rivalry match that promises to thrill fans as the two teams vie for the title of the 2024 SBC Tournament Champion.
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Photo credit sunbeltsports.org
