Glances around the Mountain State

Soccer. Yes, soccer.

I know it goes unnoticed, but when I conceived of this project some 18 months ago, I swore to myself that I’d hit on all the goings-on in Mountaineer sports that I could find information about. And, the interwebs being all inter and webby, as long as you keep your eyes open, you can find info on almost anything.

Sometimes, that can be very awkward.

On to soccer.

First, since the Women’s World Cup in China began yesterday AM Eastern time, we’ll glance first at the women. Ranked 18th, the Lady ‘Eers (Is that Lady nickname still used in college athletics today? I confess, I don’t pay close attention to women’s sports.) beat the Lady Nittanies 1-0 Sunday afternoon. Penn State was 15th ranked at the time.

In an effort to be more confusing than football’s ranking situation, there are three ranking sources in college soccer. The Mountaineer-ettes are 14, 18 and 19, depending on which publication/association you’re abiding by. That’s an average of #17. Not too shabby.

The men’s soccer team isn’t yet ranked, but beat Duquesne Monday evening, 1-0, scoring the game winner late, according to the report you can catch here at msnsportsnet.com.

That’s probably enough college soccer for now.

UPDATE: The Men’s soccer team is ranked 13th.

Injuries

As I scrolled through the college football headlines on espn.com yesterday and this morning, I was struck by how many season-ending injuries folks were dealing with. Not quite as bad as the Scroll of the Dead that the NFL put out over the last 48 hours (apologies to Kevin Everett, who has apparently improved more than expected between Monday and Tuesday).

How is it that the Mountaineers have enjoyed unusually good health in the Coach Rod era, anyway? For that matter, I can’t recall the Mountaineers losing a player to injury that changed a season. Yes, last season saw Slaton’s running one-handed affect a game (his wrist problems versus Louisville was almost as responsible for that loss as the defense’s ineptitude), but in general, injuries haven’t claimed major stars in Morgantown.

Perhaps I’m cursing the crew by even typing this.

Maryland

While I’ll write a more thorough preview tomorrow, I was struck by the score of Maryland’s game Saturday over Florida International, team #118 of 120. I would have expected the T(w)erps to have blown out the Golden Panthers, but instead they eked out a 26-10 win.

They were on the road, so that counts for something. Also, they had to have skipped game planning the game at FIU, instead focusing on the visiting Mountaineers during practice. That’s all that makes sense to me, because FIU is, well, a Division I-A team in name only. Sure, anything can happen, as Appalachian State proved on the season’s opening Saturday, but Appy State’s a good squad. FIU would lose ten games out of ten to Appy State.

So, I expect the T(w)erps will show up on Thursday night, but I truly doubt the Mountaineers will have any more trouble with them than they did with Marshall.

Administrivia

I’d promised a near-daily look at college athletes involved in police matters, but honestly, I’m overwhelmed. You’ve got computer thieves at WVU, batterers everywhere, murderers in New Hampshire, kids getting suspended for anything and everything. I will get to it. I promise.

‘Till then, I suck.