WVU kicks off Huge 12 slate at residence in opposition to Texas Tech

MORGANTOWN — Texas Tech soccer coach Joey McGuire has a really favorable opinion of Morgantown.

“We’re excited to be beginning Huge 12 play and if we’re not at residence, it’s nice to be enjoying in such an excellent atmosphere,” McGuire stated of beginning convention play this week at WVU (3:30 p.m./ESPN+). “West Virginia has an excellent stadium and the followers are unbelievable. It’s only a nice atmosphere for faculty soccer.”

McGuire has all the explanations on the planet to love Morgantown. For one, his Purple Raiders haven’t misplaced on Mountaineer Discipline since 2017.

“They’ve had our quantity,” stated WVU coach Neal Brown, who has not overwhelmed Texas Tech since becoming a member of WVU. “That’ll most likely be the story this week, they’ve beat us 4 years in a row.”

In its present four-game profitable streak, Texas Tech has outscored WVU 143-74, together with a 48-10 beatdown in McGuire’s first season final 12 months.

“They’ve overwhelmed us handily twice,” Brown stated. “I believe the widespread factor is that they’ve moved the ball on us fairly nicely and we haven’t been in a position to run the ball in addition to we’d like to have the ability to run the ball to win soccer video games versus these guys.”

In final 12 months’s recreation, the Purple Raiders racked up practically 600 yards of offense, scored six touchdowns and prompted 4 turnovers.

This 12 months, Texas Tech (1-2) is trying to get again to .500 after dropping its first two video games of the season to Wyoming and Oregon. WVU (2-1), in the meantime, needs to complete off an ideal three-game homestand to construct some good early-season momentum. 

“That is the beginning of Huge 12 performs and that is our final recreation in a three-game homestretch,” Brown stated. “We really feel like if we are able to defend our residence turf, then we’ve bought an opportunity to have a very good 12 months.”

Texas Tech is led by operating again Tahj Brooks, who has 268 speeding yards and a landing thus far this season. The Purple Raiders even have a receiving trio of Jerand Bradley (211), Jordan Brown (124) and Myles Value (118) who all have already got over 100 yards.

McGuire has used two quarterbacks thus far with senior Tyler Shough and sophomore Behren Morton each seeing time.

“Each these children are greater than succesful,” Brown stated. “Each of them are high quality Huge 12 gamers so I don’t suppose their plan of assault actually alters with whoever’s within the recreation.”

Shough has thrown for 743 yards and run for 137 with 9 complete touchdowns, however he has additionally already thrown 4 interceptions.

McGuire, too, should put together for 2 quarterbacks as WVU starter Garrett Greene is questionable to play after injuring his ankle final week in opposition to Pitt.

Backup Nicco Marchiol threw for 60 yards and a landing within the 17-6 win and may very well be in line to make his first profession begin ought to Greene not be capable of go.

“We’ve bought to organize for each guys and we are going to put together for each guys,” McGuire stated. “We’re fortunate that they’re related, however (Marchiol) did a superb job coming into that Pitt recreation. That recreation in that space is as huge of a recreation as there’s and you would inform he can deal with the stress.”

Defensively, linebacker Jesiah Pierre leads TTU with 25 complete tackles. Edge rusher Myles Cole has a pair of sacks and cornerback Malik Dunlap has two interceptions.

After drawing a sell-out crowd of 61,000 for the Yard Brawl final week, Brown hopes the followers can once more give the Mountaineers a home-field benefit.

“Our followers had been vital final week and we’d like them,” Brown stated. “We had been picked final within the convention, that is the primary alternative for us to show the so-called consultants mistaken. We get Tech and we get them right here at residence.”

“It’s an atmosphere that’s going to be quite a lot of enjoyable to play in in case you’re a university soccer participant or a fan,” McGuire added. “It’s going to be a hostile atmosphere. You’re going to should play nicely.”