The WVU Tech women’s soccer team opened River States Conference Tournament play with a win on Wednesday.
The men will try to do the same on Saturday when they host Midway in the semifinals at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Sports Complex. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.
The Golden Bears (15-0-2) earned the No. 1 seed and a quarterfinal bye as the regular season champion. Ranked No. 18 in the NAIA Top 25, Tech enters the tournament on a 12-game winning streak.
The Golden Bears racked up in all-conference, including a sweep of the individual awards.
Freshman Julen Recalde was named the Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. He enters Saturday’s game with 12 goals on 25 points.
Senior Nicholas Ihnat is the Defensive Player of the Year. The Tech defense has posted nine clean sheets and allowed just 10 goals in 17 games.
Nick Semnani was named Coach of the Year in just his second year at the helm.
Joining Recalde and Ihnat on the first team were Luka Felix, Julian Diaz, Marcos Garcia Aldama, Keishon Clarke, Gonzalo Sabeh and Leny Duperray.
On the second team was Hugo Roman. Tech’s NAIA Champion of Character was Moba Seshoka.
The women will be on the road at No. 2 Indiana-Kokomo for a tournament semifinal. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
The Golden Bears (11-4-3), seeded third, advanced with Wednesday’s 4-2 shootout over No. 6 Brescia. It was their fourth straight victory.
The Cougars defeated Tech 1-0 on Oct. 18, also in Kokomo.
The women also had multiple conference honorees, including Newcomer of the Year Rocío Gutiérrez. The midfielder has five goals and five assists on the season.
Joining her on the first team is forward Julia Silva (12 goals, conference-leading 69 shots).
On the second team are keeper Sandra Garcia Quillez (56 saves, .82 goals against average, .789 save percentage, six shutouts), forward Nora Martin-Mora Segura (seven goals) and defender Sophie Quinlan. Fellow defender Oda Aksnes is a third-teamer. The defense has allowed just 15 goals this season.
Tech’s NAIA Champion of Character is Sofía Filgueira.
Saturday’s winners will advance to Wednesday’s championship games. They will be hosted by the highest remaining seeds.
