CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The No. 8 Golden Eagles are set for a top 15 matchup Thursday night as they take on the No. 15 Ohio Valley Fighting Scotts. Opening weekend will end with their MEC opener against the West Liberty Hilltoppers on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
 
The Golden Eagles finished the 2018 season with a record of 18-1-2. The Golden Eagles took home another Mountain East Conference regular season and tournament trophy in 2018. The season came to an end in the round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament, falling to West Chester 1-0.
 
The Golden Eagles are returning key players on both sides of the ball. Second team All-MEC Goalkeeper, Alvaro Dean is back in the net for the Golden Eagles. Dean played and started in 10 games in 2018, sharing the net with Ewen Legallo. Charleston also returns defensive player of the year, Williams N'Dah, first teamers, Christos Charalambous, and Freddy Tracey. Second team All-MEC defender, Jordi Ramon also returns on the back line for Charleston.
 
The Ohio Valley Fighting Scotts are coming into the 2019 season ranked No. 15. Ohio Valley men's soccer had a historic run during the 2018 season with the program ranked as high as No. 2 in the polls during their 18-6-1 season. Resulting in the Fighting Scots finishing the 2018 season ranked 10th after winning the Midwest Region Championship defeating Saginaw Valley State University 1-0. 
 
Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. Thursday night at Schoenbaum Stadium.