Why Home-Field Advantage Is Crucial to West Virginia’s Tournament Success

On Nov. 28, the West Virginia men’s soccer team secured the hottest ticket in town when their NCAA Tournament quarterfinal match against Loyola Marymount sold out in just over five and a half hours on Monday morning.

Coach Dan Stratford expressed excitement over the energy and environment created by the packed stand during the previous game. “They truly were a 12th man and we’re incredibly excited that we already sold the game out in a short span of time,” he said over Zoom on Tuesday.

The rapid sale of tickets was expected as this Saturday will be the Mountaineers’ final opportunity to play at home this season. A win would advance them to the College Cup semifinals in Louisville, Ky. next Friday.

This season marked the first time the WVU men have sold out the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, having done so four times this year, including three consecutive games.

Stratford expressed hope of breaking another attendance record, aiming for over 3,000 fans. He also encouraged fans to support the team in Louisville next week if they advance.

WVU (16-2-4) was guaranteed home-field advantage for the first two rounds of play and will continue to play at home until the final four after an upset allowed them to remain in Morgantown.

Stratford emphasized the importance of the home crowd, attributing their undefeated home record this season to the incredible environment and atmosphere created by the fans.

The influence of the crowd was evident during the team’s two one-goal victories, with Stratford acknowledging the crowd’s impact on his team’s performance.

With the support of the home crowd, WVU hopes to secure a win against Loyola Marymount on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN +.