The Mountaineers finally broke through at home, edging St. Bonaventure 1‑0 in a tightly contested match that saw the winning goal arrive in the 62nd minute.
A Boost for the Mountaineers
The goal, supplied by a precise cross from graduate defender Aurelien Cormier, marked the first tally of the season for the Spanish forward who transferred from West Virginia Tech and was named offensive player of the year as a true freshman.
The victory comes after an opening loss to unranked Charlotte, a 3‑0 defeat that left the team at 1‑1, and a series of injury concerns that have plagued the squad.
Coach Dan Stratford acknowledged the team’s need to improve the quality of play and reduce desperation in the first half, but praised the resilience shown after halftime.
Injuries have forced the Mountaineers to manage a 28‑player roster with roughly 12 sidelined, including standout midfielders Pablo Pozos, Nacho Martinez and Isaac Scheer.
Goalkeeper Toby Mawer, who recorded just two saves in this match, contrasted with his three‑goal performance in the previous game, highlighting the uneven defensive efforts early in the season.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers are slated to face UNC Greensboro on August 28, with hopes that several injured players will be available for the upcoming Akron clash on September 3.