Women's Soccer: WVU in Sweet 16
November 16, 2003 04:46 PM | General
November 16, 2003
Lisa Stoia gets this shot past the Ohio State defense for West Virginia's first goal. The Mountaineers defeated Ohio State 3-0 to advance to the round of 16 (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks).
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Senior midfielder Lisa Stoia scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the sixth-seeded West Virginia University women's soccer team (16-3-2) past Ohio State (13-5-3) on Sunday afternoon at the Mountaineer Soccer Complex.
With the win the Mountaineers advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
"This is a great day for our program and our University," said head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. "We're finally going to the Sweet 16."
"This a chance not a lot of people get," added Stoia. "There's no other place myself, my teammates or my coaches want to be right now."
Stoia opened the match scoring when she handled a cross from fellow senior Chrissie Abbott near the penalty spot. The Shirley, N.Y., native, took two touches, creating a one versus one with Buckeye goalkeeper Emily Haynam and buried her eighth goal of the season at the 40:06 mark.
The Mountaineers held the 1-0 lead, controlling much of the match play throughout, until the 64th minute when Ohio State was whistled for a foul, giving WVU a set play opportunity from about 40 yards out. Stoia found junior forward Laura Kane in the box and Kane headed the ball into the upper ninety for West Virginia's second goal of the contest.
Again off a set play, Stoia found reserve midfielder Leslie Barden and Barden finished her chance to give the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead with five minutes remaining in the match. The goal was Barden's fifth of the season and her second of the NCAA tournament.
With her two assists in the second round contest, Lisa Stoia surpassed former Mountaineer Katie Barnes on the WVU all-time assists list. Stoia now boasts 31 career assists, the school record.
The Mountaineers will face Florida State, a 2-1 overtime winner over Auburn, in the Sweet 16 next weekend. Exact date, time and location is yet to be determined.
West Virginia 3, Ohio State 0
Scoring: WVU- Stoia (Abbott) 40:06; WVU-Kane (Stoia) 63:26; WVU-Barden (Stoia) 85:07
Shots: WVU-14; OSU-5
Corners: WVU-9; OSU-2
Fouls: WVU-11; OSU-10
Goalkeeping: WVU-Lana Bannerman 1 save, 0GA, 90:00; OSU-Emily Haynam 3 saves, 3GA, 90:00
