Beckley, WV – Cumberlands faced another fierce competitor in their final match of the fall season up against West Virginia Tech. The Golden Bears ended last season as the #13 ranked team in the NAIA and had a 6-1 record coming into the contest. Even though UC possessed the ball for most of the match West Virginia Tech won their sixth straight game by a score of 1-0.

The Patriots started the game mainly in their offensive half picking up three corner kicks in the first three minutes resulting in two shots on goal from Milan Stojanovic.

In the first half, the Golden Bears were limited to just three shots on goal. Unfortunately, West Virginia Tech was able to capitalize from a misplayed ball by UC's defense. Cumberlands tried to clear the ball out, but it was misdirected to the feet of a West Virginia Tech attacker who put the ball in the back of the net. The goal was scored with just under eight minutes left in the first half.

UC controlled the ball for most of the opening minutes of the second half outshooting the Golden Bears 5-1 through the first 25 minutes. Cumberlands kept the pressure up the rest of the game putting eight shots on frame, but they were never able to convert any into goals. Despite the lack of goals, today's contest was one of the best offensive games for the Patriots earning them a season high eight corner kicks, four in each half.

Nathan Hart got his first start in a Patriots uniform manning the goal. He tied his last game mark of five saves and conceding just one goal. Hart helped keep UC in the game including a stop in the 89th minute of play requiring a diving save to the left goalpost to keep the game at 1-0.

The best series of offense for UC was from the 86th-90th minute. The Patriots pushed numbers forward rattling off three shots on frame from three different attackers. Nemanja Jovanovic nearly tied the game getting on the end of a cross that the West Virginia goalkeeper barely saved.

UC will take a two-month break from games before they take the field again taking on Bryan College (Tenn.). Their January 30 contest against the Lions will be their first of the 2021 portion of the season. The livestream for the game can be found here and the live stats can be found here.
 
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