Concord Seeks Continued Early-Season Success Against Wheeling, Charleston

Concord Stats - Wheeling Stats - Charleston Stats - Live Stats - Live Video

ATHENS, W.Va. – After playing three of its first four games away from Callaghan Stadium, the Concord University men's soccer team hosts Wheeling 3:30 p.m. Sunday before traveling to nationally-ranked Charleston 7:00 p.m. Wednesday in two Mountain East Conference contests.

LIVE COVERAGE
Both the Concord and Charleston Sports Information Departments will have live statistics and live video of the games.

Live Stats
Live Video

SERIES HISTORY vs. Wheeling: Wheeling leads 16-6-4
SERIES HISTORY vs. Charleston: Charleston leads 39-0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS VERSUS WHEELING
October 4, 2023: Concord 3 – Wheeling 2 (Beckley, W.Va.)
September 17, 2023: Concord 1 – Wheeling 1 (Wheeling, W.Va.)
October 19, 2022: Concord 2 – Wheeling 0 (Wheeling, W.Va.)
October 1, 2022: Wheeling 4 – Concord 1 (Beckley, W.Va.)
October 27, 2021: Concord 3 – Wheeling 1 (Wheeling, W.Va.)

LAST FIVE MEETINGS VERSUS CHARLESTON
November 8, 2023: #3 Charleston 2 – Concord 0 (Charleston, W.Va.)
November 1, 2023: #3 Charleston 5 – Concord 0 (Charleston, W.Va.)
September 20, 2023: Charleston 2 – Concord 1 (Beckley, W.Va.)
October 29, 2022: #8 Charleston 5 – Concord 0 (Charleston, W.Va.)
September 28, 2022: #9 Charleston 3 – Concord 0 (Beckley, W.Va.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 3-0-1
MEC Record: 3-0-1
Home Record: 1-0
Away Record: 2-0-1

BEATING THE BOBCATS
On Wednesday, Concord picked up just its fourth win over West Virginia Wesleyan in 27 tries as it defeated the Bobcats 4-0, scoring all four goals after halftime. The win was the largest margin of victory for CU in the all-time series. In fact, two of three wins for the Mountain Lions over WVWC have come in overtime—in last season's MEC Tournament as well as a 2016 regular-season meeting. The third previous win was in 2021 on the road, a 3-1 victory. In the win at West Virginia Wesleyan, junior forward Richard Henry became the seventh player in program history with a two-assist game, joining teammate and senior forward Fabian Amhof in the club. Henry assisted on goals by sophomore forward Ignacio Alvarez and freshman midfielder Kyle Gordon.

SECOND-HALF SURGE
The Mountain Lions have scored eight of their 11 goals after halftime this season. All four goals at West Virginia Wesleyan were in the second half while three of the four goals scored versus West Liberty September 11 came after the intermission. Individually, Alvarez has netted both of his goals in the second halves of games. Two of the team-best three goals for sophomore forward Syrus Conolly has come in the second 45 minutes. In last year's 3-2 win over Wheeling, Concord overcame a 2-1 deficit in the final 15 minutes with Alvarez scoring in the 77^th minute and Amhof providing the game-winning goal in the 81^st minute.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
CU has never defeated, or tied, Charleston in 39 all-time meetings. However, the Mountain Lions have been closing the margin on the powerhouse Charleston program, losing 2-1 in the regular season last year and not conceding a goal until the 60^th minute in a 2-0 defeat in the MEC Semifinals in 2023. Amhof scored in the regular season versus UC last season. Regardless of result for both sides Sunday—Charleston has a non-conference contest versus Saginaw Valley State—Wednesday's game will be a matchup of the top two teams in the MEC standings. Charleston starts the weekend on 12 points in the conference while Concord has 10 points.

WHEELING AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 0-3-2
MEC Record: 0-2-1
Home Record: 0-2
Away Record: 0-1-2

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Joergen Bjerkreim and Alex Yesufu have each scored a goal for the Cardinals. Daniel Delo made a season-high seven saves to preserve a 0-0 tie against Point Park on Wednesday. Other than a 5-0 loss to Charleston in the season's second game, WU has played in two games that finished in a draw and two more decided by a goal.

CHARLESTON AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 4-0-1
MEC Record: 4-0
Home Record: 2-0
Away Record: 2-0-1

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Charleston is ranked sixth in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll, but a new poll is due out Tuesday before Wednesday's contest. A goal by Jack Kay in the final 10 minutes at Davis & Elkins Wednesday kept the Golden Eagles undefeated in conference play. Joao Belmudes is tied for first in the conference in goals with three while adding two assists.