Women’s Soccer: WVU Ties Penn State In Exhibition
August 18, 2005 05:29 PM | General
August 18, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - In its first preseason exhibition match of the year, the 11th-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team tied sixth-rated Penn State 1-1 on Thursday afternoon at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
“Our main focus today was making sure we gave 110-percent effort the entire time we were on the field,” said 10th-year head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We wanted everyone to go out and play with the mind set that nothing but high intensity soccer was acceptable and for the most part, we accomplished that.”
The Mountaineers and the Nittany Lions played to a 0-0 tie following the first 45 minute period. After a sluggish start, West Virginia played solidly, narrowly missing scores on several occasions.
The first goal of the match came in the second half when play from freshmen Amanda Cicchini and Deana Everrett found the foot of sophomore Ashley Banks who buried a shot into the far netting of the goal.
Penn State evened the match later in the second period, scoring on a shot from 20 yards out to knot the score at 1-1.
“Penn State is a Final Four caliber team and they pressured us,” Izzo-Brown commented. “They definitely exposed some weaknesses, mentally and technically, that we’ll have to get corrected before the season starts.”
The match consisted of two 45 minute halves, followed by two 10 minute periods and a penalty kick shootout.
No. 11 West Virginia will play its second exhibition match of the preseason on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., when Maryland visits Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Mountaineers will officially open the 2005 campaign on Friday, Aug. 26, when they play host to reigning Atlantic 10 champion Dayton also at 7 p.m.
