West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's soccer team looks to continue to build on the early success of the 2023 season as they welcome Salem to the hilltop for a Sunday afternoon match-up. The third all-time meeting between the Hilltoppers and Tigers is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff at the West Family Athletic Complex.

GAME DETAILS

• Location: West Liberty, W.Va. (West Family Athletic Complex)
• Kickoff: 1 P.M.

WEST LIBERTY STORYLINES

• West Liberty enters Sunday's match with a record of 2-1-1 (1-1-1 MEC) on the season and is currently fourth in the Mountain East Conference standings with four points through three matches.
• In their last game, the Hilltoppers used a trio of second half goals from Mark Donnelly, Vitor Otsuka, and Danilo Tavares to earn a win on the road at California (PA) by a score of 3-0.
• WLU has seen six different players score goals for them this season, led by Otsuka, Donnelly, and Zachary Forehand who have all found the back of the net twice. Time Stickland, Federico Murrau, and Tavares have all scored one goal in the first four games of the season.
• Three different Hilltoppers have assisted on goals during the first four games of the year, led by Otsuka with two, while Stickland and Jan Goebel each have one.
• With a pair of goals and assists, Otsuka leads the team with six points on the year.
• Otsuka's six points is tied for the MEC lead while he is also tied for second in assists and tied for fifth in goals.
• In goal, Noah Underwood has played all 360 minutes thus far this season. He has made 18 saves for a .857 save percentage on 36 shots faced. He has notched two shutouts this season in wins over No. 12 Davis & Elkins and California (PA).
• Underwood is second in the league with 18 saves on the year while also ranking third in saves per game (4.50) and is tied for second in shutouts.
• Through four matches, West Liberty holds the advantage over their opponents in goals (9-3), assists (4-1), shots (46-26), shots-on-goal (26-21), corner kicks (27-19), and saves (18-15).
• As a team WLU ranks second in the conference with a 2.250 scoring average and has the third best scoring margin at +1.50.
• As a team, West Liberty's 18 saves and .857 save percentage both rank third in the MEC. In both categories the Black & Gold also rank 16^th and 19^th respectively.
• Sean Regan is in his fifth season as the head coach at West Liberty with a record of 18-42-6 with the Hilltoppers. Overall, he is in his 15th season as a head coach in collegiate men's soccer after spending ten previous seasons at nearby Bethany, he holds a career record of 79-160-18 during his time with the Bison and Hilltoppers.

SALEM STORYLINES

• Salem enters Sunday's match with a record of 1-4 on the season following a 1-0 win on the road at Wheeling on Wednesday. Diego Losada scored the game-winning goal for SU.
• The Tigers' three goals have come from three different players this season, as Mauricio Aguilar Renovales, Losada, and David Teruel nuno have all found the back of the net once.
• Valentin Fritz has recorded the lone assist of the year for Salem, coming in a match against Frostburg State.
• With one goal each, Aguilar Renovales, Losada, and Teruel nuno are all tied for the team lead with two points apiece.
• In goal Samuel Reyna-Farje and Ryan Schneider have split minutes this season, with Reyna-Farje starting three matches and playing in four while Schneider has started two and played in three. Reyna-Farje has made 12 saves on 48 shots faced, posting a .571 save percentage and 2.80 goals against average. Scheider has made four saves on 17 shots faced, posting a .444 save percentage and 2.80 goals against average.
• Through five matches, Salem's opponents have held the advantage in goals (14-3), assists (12-1), shots (65-40), shots-on-goal (31-19), and corner kicks (25-20). The Tigers and their opponents have been even in saves with 16 apiece.
• Florin Marton is in his second stint as the head coach at Salem and holds a career record of 131-158-26 as the Tigers' all-time wins leader in 21 seasons at the helm.

SERIES HISTORY

• West Liberty and Salem have met twice on the pitch with both games occurring during the 2017 season.
• The all-time series is tied 1-1 with each team winning at home, West Liberty earned a 4-0 win on the hilltop on September 2, 2017, while Salem earned a 4-3 home win on October 1, 2017.