Beckley, West Virginia: The Southern West Virginia King's Warriors will attempt to use home-field advantage to secure their first win of the season when the Virginia Beach Piranhas travel to Beckley on Friday to the Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex Friday for a 7:00 p.m. kick-off.

The King's Warriors have dropped three in a row and were shut out in all three games. The defense has played well all season, surrendering only seven goals in the team's first five games for a 1.40 goals-against average.

But the offense has been another story. Southern West Virginia (0-4-1) scored its only goal of the season in the King's Warriors season-opener, a 2-1 loss to the Nashville Metros. In four games since the team has been blanked each time. But the last two games have given the King's Warriors hope that the goals will start coming. 

In their last game against Northern Virginia last Saturday, Southern West Virginia nearly scored on several occasions while mustering a season-high 12 shots in a 1-0 defeat. Only some stellar goal keeping by the Royals Joel Helmick kept the King's Warriors off the scoreboard. The only Northern Virginia goal was scored on a penalty kick.

King's Warriors Assistant Coach Luke Sanford offered his thoughts on Southern West Virginia's chances for their first win this Friday. "We are excited about our week of training and the progress we've made," said Sanford.

"The guys are hungry and have had enthusiastic and unified attitudes in training. We hope to put together  a complete effort for 90 minutes Friday night, and if we do that the results will take care of themselves."

Two new players were added to the Southern West Virginia roster on Thursday. Brothers Logan and Jack Thompson have arrived in Beckley after recently serving overseas on missions' trips to Africa.

Jack (left) will be a sophomore at Messiah College this fall, and was the Falcons second-leading scorer this past season in his freshman campaign. Logan (right) will play his senior season for Messiah this fall, and is a solid defender who will bring additional depth to an already solid King's Warriors defense. It was uncertain as of Thursday if either of the Thompsons will play Friday night, as the 18-man, game-day roster will not be decided until sometime on Friday.

Meanwhile Virginia Beach comes into the game with a record of 1-3-1. The Piranhas are winless on the road in three tries this season (0-2-1), but are coming off a 2-0 victory at home last Friday against Nashville. Virginia Beach will head to Charleston after their contest with the King's Warriors to meet the West Virginia Chaos Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.  

Following Friday's home game with Virginia Beach, the King's Warriors will embark on a two-game roadtrip beginning with a game next Friday against their fellow PDL-expansion team members, Palmetto FC in Greenwood, South Carlina. The following night, Saturday, June 16, Southern Virginia will be in Greensboro, North Carolina to face the Carolina Dynamo at 7:30 p.m.

The King's Warriors will return to Beckley for their next home game on Tuesday, June 19 to battle their in-state rivals, the West Virginia Chaos at the Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex at 7:00 p.m. The June 19 matchup will be the second meeting this season in the "West Virginia Coal Cup Clash" sponsored by Little General Stores. The gates will open at 6:00 p.m. at the Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex. Tickets are available in advance, which includes a discount, by calling the King's Warriors at (304) 466-9080. Tickets are also available at the gate at regular game-day prices.