ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — WVU Tech men's soccer capped the most successful season in program history Monday afternoon, falling 2–1 to Grand View in the NAIA National Championship Final. The Golden Bears finish the year 20-1-2 and as national runners-up after a school-record postseason run that included wins over three ranked opponents in Orange Beach.
Tech struck first in the fourth minute when Leny Duperray buried his 13th goal of the season off a sharp feed from Keishon Clarke, giving the Golden Bears instant momentum. The lead held for nine minutes before Grand View equalized in the 14th, and the Vikings netted the eventual winner in the 60th minute.
The Golden Bears created chances early, placing four shots on target in the opening half, but were limited to just one attempt after halftime. Still, Tech's back line held strong under consistent pressure, and senior goalkeeper Luka Felix produced a seven-save performance in his final collegiate appearance.
Scoring Summary
- 4:12 – WVU Tech: Duperray (assist Clarke)
- 13:42 – GVU: Gonzalez (assist Chapman)
- 59:30 – GVU: Furumo
Golden Bear Highlights
- Duperray: 1 goal (13th of season), 1 SOG
- Clarke: Assist, 2 shots on goal
- Recalde: 3 shots, all on frame
- Felix: 7 saves
- Tech opened the match with five first-half shots and six corners.
- Tech finishes the season with 74 goals, 11 shutouts, and a 0.80 GAA, while outscoring opponents 74–18.
Season of Firsts
WVU Tech's postseason journey featured:
- The program's first appearance in the NAIA National Championship match.
- An 18-match winning streak entering the final.
- Victories over #21 Ottawa, #17 Indiana Tech and #7 MidAmerica Nazarene at the final site.
- One of the strongest defensive seasons in program history.
Final Team Numbers
- Overall: 20-1-2
- Goals: 74 (4th nationally)
- Shot percentage: .230 (3rd nationally)
- Shutouts: 11
- Best postseason finish in school history
The Golden Bears close the year as NAIA National Championship Runners-Up, solidifying the 2025 campaign as a historic milestone for the program and WVU Tech Athletics.
