BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's soccer team earned its first point of the 2019 season here Sunday night, battling host West Virginia Wesleyan to a 1-1 draw in a Mountain East Conference match on the Bobcats' home turf.
      Coach Sean Regan's Hilltoppers (0-6-1, 0-5-1) faced an uphill climb almost from the start as Wesleyan (4-2-1, 3-1-1) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on Timothy Barney's unassisted goal in the fifth minute.
      West Liberty still trailed at intermission as the Bobcats maintained steady pressure into the WLU end while the Hilltoppers looked for a chance to counter.
      Opportunity knocked in the 67th minute and Daniel Rovira delivered the equalizer for the visitors, slipping an unassisted goal into the cage to forge a 1-1 deadlock.
      The Hilltopper defense weathered a strong Bobcat surge down the stretch and through the two 10-minute extra time sessions to preserve the 1-1 draw.
      The hosts controlled the run of play for much of the night, outshooting WLU by a 14-6 margin and posting a whopping 9-1 edge in corner kick opportunities. It was a physical contest as the teams combined for 28 fouls – 16 against Wesleyan – along with three yellow cards – all on the Hilltoppers.
      West Liberty's Jorn Hocter was credited with 4 saves on the night. Bobcat netminder Jeremy Collins had 2 saves.
      The Hilltoppers return home for the "Regan Bowl" on Wednesday when West Liberty hosts Ohio County rival Wheeling in a 5 p.m. match at the West Family Athletic Complex. Sean Regan's father, Jim Regan, is the long-time head coach of the Cardinal men.
      West Liberty                                            0  1  0  0 – 1
W.Va. Wesleyan                                    1  0  0  0 – 1         WVW: Timothy Barney (unassisted), 4:59         WLU: Daniel Rovira (unassisted), 66:15         Shots: West Liberty 6, W.Va. Wesleyan 14
        Saves: West Liberty 4 (Jorn Hocter 4), W.Va. Wesleyan 2 (Jeremy Collins 2)
        Corners: W.Va. Wesleyan 9, West Liberty 1
A: 60