WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University men's soccer team returns home Wednesday for a key Mountain East Conference matchup against No.19 Concord University, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. at the West Family Athletic Complex.

The Hilltoppers enter Wednesday's match at 5-4-1 overall and 3-4 in MEC play following a 1-1 draw at Seton Hill on Saturday.

West Liberty has scored 14 goals in 10 matches this season while allowing 13. The Hilltoppers are averaging 12.0 shots per match and have put 46.7 percent of their attempts on target.

Sophomore Leyton Collier continues to pace the Hilltopper attack. Collier leads the team with three goals, two assists and eight points while also ranking among the MEC's individual leaders with 24 shots and 14 shots on goal. His 3.00 shots per game lead the conference, while his 1.75 shots on goal per game rank second.

Jasper Newton has added four points on one goal and two assists, while Brian Russell has contributed two goals and four points.

Concord enters Wednesday at 8-1-2 overall and 7-1 in MEC play, sitting atop the South Division and second overall in the conference standings. The Mountain Lions have won five straight matches, including a 1-0 road victory at Davis & Elkins on Sunday.

Concord is also making its first appearance in the United Soccer Coaches Division II National Top 25 this season, checking in at No. 19 in Tuesday's latest poll. The Mountain Lions are ranked No. 3 in the Atlantic Region, while West Liberty is ranked No. 10 in this week's regional poll.

Wednesday's match marks the fourth nationally ranked opponent West Liberty has faced this season at the time of the meeting. The Hilltoppers previously faced No. 23 Frostburg State, No. 15 Davis & Elkins and No. 4 Charleston. The current Concord ranking gives West Liberty another matchup against one of the region's nationally recognized programs.

The Mountain Lions have been one of the conference's strongest defensive teams, allowing just six goals through 11 matches. Concord has scored 19 goals while limiting opponents to 0.55 goals per game and has recorded seven shutouts.

Senior goalkeeper Iori Tanaka has been a major part of that success, posting a 0.56 goals-against average and .806 save percentage with seven shutouts in 11 starts.

Offensively, Koya Nakamura and Josiah Ochoa lead the Mountain Lions with nine points apiece. Both players have three goals and three assists. Dominique Malhomme has added three goals and one assist, while Lucas Costa has two goals and two game-winning goals.

Wednesday's meeting continues a series that has produced plenty of close results in recent seasons.

West Liberty owns a 7-6-1 record against Concord since 2019, but the Mountain Lions have won four consecutive meetings in Athens. Concord defeated the Hilltoppers 3-2 in last year's MEC semifinal, following regular-season victories of 2-1 on Nov. 1, 2025, and 2-1 on Oct. 23, 2024, along with a 1-0 victory on Oct. 18, 2023.

The Hilltoppers, however, won the most recent meeting at West Liberty, earning a 1-0 victory over then-No. 10 Concord on Sept. 21, 2025.

Wednesday's match also features two of the MEC's top goalkeepers.

West Liberty junior Shai'ya Fitzgerald ranks among the conference leaders with a 1.25 goals-against average, .788 save percentage and 41 saves through nine appearances. His 4.56 saves per game rank fourth in the MEC.

Fitzgerald has helped the Hilltoppers hold opponents to 1.30 goals per game this season. West Liberty has also recorded 42 saves and two shutouts as a team.

Tanaka has been equally impressive for Concord, leading a Mountain Lion defense that has allowed only six goals in 11 matches. His seven shutouts are the most in the MEC.





West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.