Women's Soccer: WVU Advances
November 14, 2003 10:03 PM | General
November 14, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Senior forward Chrissie Abbott became West Virginia University's career points leader, scoring a goal and adding two assists to lead the sixth-seeded Mountaineers (16-3-2) past Loyola (12-9-1) 4-2 in the first round of the 2003 Women's College Cup Friday night at the Mountaineer Soccer Complex.
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| Lisa Zanti scores the first of West Virginia's four goals Friday night against Loyola in the first round of the NCAA championships.(All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
Abbott, a North Olmsted, Ohio native, surpassed former Mountaineer Katie Barnes on the career points list when she assisted on junior Leslie Barden's fourth-goal of the season 38:11 minutes into the contest. Sophomore forward Rachael Minnich also tallied an assist on the match-opening goal.
A Hermann Trophy semifinalist, Abbott now boasts 123 career points.
The WVU lead lasted only two minutes before Loyola's Kaitlin Klar scored in the 41st minute.
Junior Lisa Zanti put the Mountaineers back on top when she blasted a shot from 18 yards out past Greyhound goalkeeper Kate Gilfillan.
Abbott added her 13th goal of the season seven minutes later to give WVU the 3-1 lead.
West Virginia controlled much of the second half action, but a defensive mistake in the 65th minute landed the Greyhounds an own goal, tightening the match at 3-2.
The Mountaineers put the contest away with five minutes remaining when Barden took a pass from Abbott and crossed it into the center of the box where freshman Nicole Cauzillo headed the ball into the goal.
With the win, West Virginia advanced to second round of the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season. Both years, the Mountaineers defeated Loyola to move on.
"You have to give Loyola credit," said head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. "They are a great team with great players. It just so happened that West Virginia played with 90 minutes of intensity and we finished our chances."
WVU, ranked ninth in this week's national rankings, will face Ohio State, who defeated Dayton 3-0 in the first match of the evening at the Mountaineer Soccer Complex at 1 p.m., on Sunday, Nov. 16.
West Virginia 4, Loyola 2
Scoring: WVU- Barden (Minnich, Abbott) 38:11; LC-Klar 40:10; WVU-Zanti 51:31; WVU-Abbott (Stoia); LC-own goal; WVU-Cauzillo (Barden, Abbott)
Shots:< wvu-23;="">
Corners: WVU-5; LC-1
Fouls: WVU-12; LC-14
Goalkeeping: WVU-Lana Banerman 2 GA, 3 saves 90:00 ; LC-Kate Gilfillan 4GA, 7 saves 90:00
