Marshall and WVU Clash in NCAA Soccer Tournament Second Round

NCAA Soccer Tournament Update: Marshall and West Virginia Prepare for Second Round Matches

New Orleans – The 13-seeded Marshall men’s soccer team will host Furman after receiving a first-round bye in the NCAA Soccer Tournament. Meanwhile, West Virginia will travel to face 11-seeded Virginia. Both matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Marshall playing at 1 p.m. CT and West Virginia at 4 p.m. CT.

Marshall has made the NCAA Tournament for six consecutive years. This marks the fifth time the team has earned a first-round bye. The Herd finished second in the Sun Belt regular season and recently competed in the Sun Belt tournament championship, losing to West Virginia in a penalty shootout of 6-5.

Forward Lineker Rodrigues do Santos leads Marshall’s offense, scoring 10 goals and accumulating 23 points this season. Goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic anchors the defense with an impressive record of 8-0-3 and a .624 goals against average, ranking third in the Sun Belt with six clean sheets.

Furman earned a spot in the second round after a scoreless draw against North Carolina, winning 5-3 in penalty kicks. Marshall’s victory would lead them to a matchup with the winner of NC State and 4-seeded Georgetown.

West Virginia comes off a 2-1 win against North Florida in the first round. Graduate student Sergio Ors Navarro, named Sun Belt Player of the Year, scored the game’s first goal. Junior Marcus Caldeira contributed with a second goal, securing the win for the Mountaineers.

Ors Navarro leads the Sun Belt with 15 goals and ranks third nationally with 32 points. Caldeira has scored 10 goals this season, achieving his second consecutive double-digit goal campaign and earning second team All-Sun Belt honors.

Virginia holds a record of 10-6-3 and finished eighth in the ACC with a 3-3-2 conference record.