Soccer

No. 23 WVU battling injuries to begin season

MORGANTOWN - Dan Stratford knows expectations are high for his 23rd-ranked WVU men's soccer team, which opens the season at 7 p.m. Thursday on the road against Charlotte.

The issue is Stratford's current roster options - through a number of injuries - are extremely limited.

"Sadly, we woke up on Saturday morning after playing Georgetown (in a scrimmage) with 12 injury concerns," Stratford said on Tuesday. "We're a squad of 28, so that definitely has an impact on things.

"I'm happy to say most of the group have got to a place where they can contribute against Charlotte, but we're definitely dealing with an injury crisis that I've never dealt with in my life."

The good news is forward Pablo Pozos is healthy and ready to go.

The senior from Madrid, Spain, opens the season with high expectations after being named the Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year. As a sophomore, Pozos was second on the team with 11 goals and 25 points.

The difference will be Pozos will no longer have his running mate in Marcus Caldeira, who scored 42 goals over his college career and is currently playing for Minnesota United FC in MLS.

"Marcus was responsible for a number of assists for Pablo, especially early on in the season," Stratford said. "I do think that is something we have to be mindful of. The nature of Marcus' playing style drew a lot of attention and allowed Pablo to do what he does, which is to arrive on the ball for the final finish and the final action.

"We have every intention of utilizing Pablo in a very similar fashion. I think where we've evolved as a team is we're stronger in the wider areas. I think it's a really nice attacking depth we have available to us when everybody is fit."

When will everybody be fit for the Mountaineers? That's a good question.

It probably won't be early, as WVU may be without the services of midfielder Isaac Scheer, a preseason all-Sun Belt selection, in the opening week. Nacho Martinez, WVU's third all-Sun Belt preseason selection, sat out the team's final scrimmage against Georgetown.

WVU's defense will likely be a little raw, as returning starter Thijs Veldhorst is battling an injury, as is newcomer Mark Chust, who is in his first season in American college soccer after playing for UD Alzira in Spain.

"On top of that, we also had an issue with Tristan (Pusztahegyi) after the Pittsburgh (scrimmage). He didn't play at all against Georgetown," Stratford said. "We definitely have been hit by the bug. It's all been different things, and those things happen. We've had new players that we brought in in January, and we've had to work to get those guys up to speed as quickly as possible."

WVU's goalkeeping situation may have been hit the hardest. Toby Mawer is trying to work his way back from a groin injury and freshman Kendall Starks is dealing with a shoulder injury.

That leaves redshirt sophomore Chase Collins, who may play Friday with a medical mask after breaking his nose.

"It won't interrupt things, but he may look like Batman if he plays," Stratford said of Collins. "I would say Kendall is probably a week away from being full go and being able to compete for the position. It's been a little start-stop for them. We think we have a trio of good goaltenders. Right now, we're just trying to get two (to be healthy). Three would be amazing. We may have to get a little creative."