Men's Soccer: WVU Pummels Rutgers
September 17, 2005 12:09 AM | General
September 16, 2005
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| Noble |
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The West Virginia University men’s soccer team opened BIG EAST play with a 3-0 win over Rutgers on Friday night at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.
“Tonight’s win was extremely important for our team in terms of getting off to a fast start in BIG EAST play,” said head coach Mike Seabolt.
WVU (4-2-0, 1-0-0) jumped on the board in the 11th minute of play when junior forward Jarrod Smith lined up for a corner kick. The Havelock North, New Zealand, native sent a low ball toward the goal that somehow eluded all Scarlet Knight defenders and hooked into the back of the net for his team-leading third goal of the season.
Smith’s shot was one of only two shots that the Mountaineers gotoff in the first period. However, Rutgers would only be able to match that count on its offensive side.
The Scarlet Knights (1-4-0, 0-1-0) turned up their pressure with just under 26 minutes left to play in the first half and was able to put West Virginia on its heels several times late. WVU’s biggest scare came with 10 minutes remaining in the period. Rutgers midfielder Kevin O’Conner got a hold of a cross from six yards out that caught goalkeeper Nick Noble in no position to make a save, but the ball luckily sailed just wide of the left post.
WVU struck again in the 57th minute of play off of a free kick. Junior midfielder Matt Anstey chipped a ball into the box from 35 yards out just in front of Andy Wright. The Liverpool, Engand, native bent down to his waist to head the ball to the right side of the net past goalkeeper Matt Vanoekel.
The goal marked Wright’s second since moving to center defense at the beginning of this season.
Sophomore free kick specialist Dan Stratford made the score 3-0 on one of the most dramatic scores of the year thus far. The London, England, native stepped up to a direct free kick from 40 yards out and bent an amazing shot over Vanoekel into the far top corner of the goal.
The Mountaineer defense came alive after Stratford’s goal for a pair of spectacular plays. With 12:15 remaining on the clock Noble made a diving save with his legs to preserve his clean sheet and turn away a certain goal.
In the 81st minute Rutgers’ Chris Moore broke loose seven yards from the front of the goal and let a hard shot loose that was quickly blocked by defender Pat Carroll who came sliding in.
The win marks only the second time the Mountaineers have beaten the Scarlet Knights in 17 tries. The only other victory against Rutgers came in 1999 when WVU won 2-1 in Morgantown.
Noble recorded two saves in the match en route to recording his fourth shutout of the season. Vanoekel finished the match with one save, while allowing all three goals.
West Virginia returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 18, when it travels to Villanova, Pa., to face BIG EAST foe Villanova for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
