Rio Grande, OH – The (RV) Patriots recorded their first win of the season in dominating fashion, taking down West Virginia Tech 3-0. This also marks the first defeat of the season for the Golden Bears, who had tied #20 Milligan earlier this season. Cumberlands is now 1-2-1 for the 2022 year.

Stephen Appiah led all scorers, netting two and Rodrigo Riveros got the other, which marked the first goal of the season for UC. Cumberlands had three different players earn assists in the match, including goalkeeper Pablo Vasquez along with Tommaso Ogliari and Shuma Sasaki.

The Patriots controlled most of the first half, outshooting the Bears nine to three. The few shots for WVT can be attributed to the Cumberlands defense who had another impressive outing, limiting West Virginia Tech to just one shot on goal. The lone shot came from atop the 18-yard box and Pablo Vasquez was up to the task, catching the high shot in 28th minute.

Hrannar Magnusson cleared the ball out of the 18-yard box past half field in the 39th minute of play. A Golden Bears defender attempted to settle the clearance, but high pressure from Riveros was too much for him. Riveros stole the ball away and sped into the box, cutting the ball past the goalkeeper and another defender before slotting it into the net for the 1-0 UC lead.

Cumberlands had two more shots on goal, but both were saved, giving them the one goal advantage at the break. The second half was much of the same, with UC dominating possession, once again tallying nine shots.

In the 58' Appiah was subbed into the match and with one of his first touches, just a minute later, he extended the UC lead. The Patriots caused a turnover in the Golden Bears' defensive end and quick passing from Sasaki to Ogliari spread out the defense. Ogliari had the ball on the left flank and crossed it to the far post where Appiah redirected the ball with his head for the goal, putting the Pats up 2-0.

The 74^th minute was where Appiah found his brace. Vasquez sailed the ball from inside his goalkeeper box past midfield to an on-running Appiah. The Louisville, KY native used his speed to outpace all of WVU's defenders to be one-on-one with the keeper. He cut the ball to his left before tapping it into the goal for the 3-0 lead.

West Virginia Tech only mustered up three more shots in the contest, with none of them going in. Vasquez earned his first clean sheet in his first start in goal as a Patriot, playing a full 90 minutes. Vasquez joins teammate, Ingmar Struck, as the only two keepers to earn a clean sheet in their first full game as a Patriot since Head Coach Chris LeFevre took over the program.

The two goals for Appiah mark the second time in his career that he has had a multi-goal game with the last coming against Cumberland U on October 10 of last season.

UC will return to the pitch on Sunday, September 4 when they face #13 Rio Grande. Kick-off is set for 11AM in Rio Grande, OH.

For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics. Please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @UCPatriots, Youtube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.