University of Charleston Athletics

The 1999 Golden Eagles men’s soccer team would make history at the University of Charleston. UC would complete the season with a NCAA Division II leading 21 wins compared to only two defeats. Charleston would finish a perfect 7-0 record in the WVIAC on their way to regular season and tournament championships. The nearly unblemished record would qualify the Golden Eagles for the NCAA Division II National Tournament, the first in University of Charleston history. UC would coast through the Sweet 16 by defeating WV Wesleyan 3-1 and easily make their way through their Elite Eight opponent IUP-FW, 5-0. In just their first NCAA Tournament appearance the Golden Eagles would make the national semifinals before falling to Southern Connecticut in a close 1-0 match. The team would finish the 1999 season ranked 3rd by the NSCAA and would achieve many milestones along the way. The team would score 112 goals on the season which would be second all time in NCAA DII history. Their 4.87 goals per game average would put them in the top three in the NCAA men’s soccer DII record books. The Golden Eagle defense also held its own, allowing just .42 goals against each game and accounted for 15 clean sheets. Individual accomplishments came as a result of team success, as the Golden Eagles placed team members on All-WVIAC, All-Region and NCAA DII All-American teams. Coach Pete Curtis would earn Regional Coach of the year. The 1999 team would be one of the most successful teams in Goldene Eagles history and would launch the program into national prominence.