WVU Wins Opener
August 26, 2005 09:48 PM | General
August, 26, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 11 West Virginia University women’s soccer team defeated Dayton, 3-1, on Friday night to open its 10th season.
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| West Virginia's Ashley Banks attempts a shot during Friday night's season-opening 3-1 victory voer Dayton at Dick Dlesk Stadium in Morgantown, W.Va.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
The Mountaineers opened the match scoring in the 38th minute when sophomore Kiley Harris flicked a pass to freshman Deana Everrett who buried the ball into the upper 90 for her first collegiate goal.
“For a season opener we really came together,” said head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown of her team’s fifth season-opening victory in the history of the program. “We finished the majority of our chances and finished them at crucial times to change the match’s momentum."
The score remained 1-0 until Harris picked up a ball from a shot fired by senior midfielder Marisa Kanela to score her first goal of the season with four seconds remaining in the first half.
Dayton countered in the second half, putting offensive pressure on WVU until it finally broke the Mountaineer defense at the 78:55 mark when Jen Leslie scored after a shot from Kristen Persichini was deflected off Mountaineer goalkeeper Lana Bannerman. Bannerman made a diving save on Persichini’s shot but was unable to retain possession of the ball.
Senior midfielder Marisa Kanela scored on an unassisted tap-in after a long ball from Krystle Kallman was mishandled by a Flyer defender, pulling Dayton keeper Nikki Reed off her line, leaving Kanela one-on-one with an open goal.
The Mountaineers outshot the Flyers 20-9 and had 11 corner kicks to their four.
“We had a couple of mental letdowns that we have to eliminate going into Sunday’s match with Virginia, but overall, I am pleased with the way we performed tonight. Dayton is a high-caliber program and I’m proud our ladies came together and got it done tonight.”
WVU’s win moves the Mountaineers to within three matches of 125 wins and moves their record in home openers to 8-2-0.
West Virginia returns to action on Sunday, Aug, 28, at 2 p.m., when it travels to No. 5 Virginia for a match at Klöckner Stadium.
West Virginia 3, Dayton 1
Scoring: WVU - Everrett (Harris) 37:27; WVU - Harris (Kanela) 44:56; UD - Leslie (Persichini)78:55; WVU - Kanela 87:57
Shots: WVU - 20; UD - 9
Corner Kicks: WVU - 11; UD - 4
Fouls: WVU - 4; UD - 8
Goalkeeping: WVU - Lana Bannerman, 3 saves, 1 GA, 90 minutes; UD - Niki Reed, 5 saves, 3 GA, 90 minutes
