SAN DIEGO – No. 25 San Diego men's soccer, in the midst of probably its most challenging stretch of the season so far, will travel to No. 23 West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers on Friday at 4 p.m. (PT) in Morgantown.
 
USD, fresh off entering the top 25 rankings for the first time this season, will face its second ranked opponent in as many matches when it faces the Mountaineers. The Toreros tied a ranked UCSB earlier this week at home, 2-2.
 
West Virginia (6-2-1) enters Friday's matchup with a week's worth of rest after a 3-0 win over Penn at home on September 28.
 
Here is this week's Starting XI preview:
 
I - GAME INFO
at #23 West Virginia (6-2-1)
Friday, October 4 | 4 p.m. (PT)/7 p.m. (ET)
Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium
 
II - HOW TO WATCH
Mountaineer TV
 
III - HOW TO FOLLOW
Live stats
 
IV - SERIES HISTORY
This is the first all-time meeting between USD and West Virginia.
 
V – NATIONALLY RANKED
For the first time since 2013, the Toreros were ranked in the nation's top 25 as they appeared in the United Soccer Coaches poll at No. 25. USD had been receiving votes in the poll for the last two weeks before finally cracking the top 25. In the College Soccer News Top 30, the Toreros are No. 27, one spot behind West Virginia.
 
VI – AGAINST THE NATIONALLY RANKED
West Virginia represents the first USD opponent ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 this season (UCSB was ranked in other national polls). While USD has not faced a United Soccer Coaches Top 25 team, it did face four last season, going 0-2-2. The last time the Toreros beat a top 25 team was August 2015 (W, 3-0 vs. #16 Cal).
 
VII – CLOSING IN ON LAST YEAR
The Toreros have scored 16 goals in their nine games this season, already matching last year's total of 16 in 19 games. USD has scored in all nine games and has registered a goal in 13 straight games dating back to October 26, 2018. It is also third among WCC in total goals this season.
 
VIII – OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING
The primary contributor to those goals is senior Miguel Berry as he has a team-best seven this season. The forward has scored in four of his last six games and in five of the nine contests this year. The seven goals, which are one shy of his career-high, currently place him tied for fifth in USD history for most career goals.
 
CAREER GOALS – USD HISTORY
1. Guillermo Jara (1992-95) – 51
2. Ryan Coiner (1999-02) – 49
3. Patrick Wallen (2009-12) –30
4. Doug Barry (1991-94) – 29
5. Miguel Berry (2016-current) & Leighton O'Brien (1995-98) – 28
 
IX – DISTRIBUTION OF OFFENSE
While Berry leads the team with seven goals, he is also one of seven different Toreros with a goal this year and one of 13 with a point. Ross Meldrum and Freddy Polzer, who both scored in the 2-2 tie vs. UC Santa Barbara, are joined by Jacob Planell and Berry has the four Toreros with multiple tallies. Last year, eight Toreros had a goal but only two (Berry, Aaron Frey) had multiple goals.
 
X – SHUT. IT. OUT.
The Toreros have posted six shutouts this season, including two in the last three matches. It is already more than last year's total (5) and most in a campaign since 2014 (6).
 
XI – UP NEXT
With nearly all of its nonconference regular season schedule complete, the Toreros open up conference play with a home match against San Francisco on Saturday, October 12 at 7 p.m.