Women's Soccer: WVU Earns Second Straight Tie
September 18, 2005 04:57 PM | General
September 18, 2005
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - In its second-straight double overtime match, the 20th-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team earned a 0-0 tie with William & Mary on Sunday afternoon at Albert-Daly Field.
"We just couldn't find the back of the net today," said 10th-year head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. "We hit posts. We sent great shots just wide. We did everything but score. I'm proud of how we battled offensively and defensively today.In the future, we're going to have to find a way to score."
The Mountaineers outshot the Tribe 15-4 on the day and earned eight corner kicks to their two.
West Virginia (3-3-2) dominated play early, taking seven shots in the first half to the Tribe’s (2-2-4) two. Both teams played solid, possession soccer, but it was the Mountaineers who controlled much of the half’s play.
WVU’s most dangerous chance of that half came in the 14th minute when freshman Kelsey Fowler redirected a corner kick to the right center of the goalmouth, forcing Tribe goalkeeper Kellie Fenton to make a diving save, punching the ball over the goal and out of play.
Early in the second half, senior Rachel Minnich played a through ball down the left side where fellow forward Deana Everrett beat a Tribe defender. Everrett then had a one-on-one with the William & Mary goalkeeper, but her 15-yard shot hit the side netting, keeping the score knotted at zero.
Everrett again got to the endline on the Tribe defense with twenty minutes to play in regulation, but her cross sailed over the head of sophomore Ashley Banks.
The Mountaineers missed another golden opportunity when freshman midfielder Amanda Cicchini played Banks, setting her up with a great look on goal, but Banks’ line-drive shot sailed just wide of the goal.
When West Virginia earned its eighth corner kick of the match with five minutes remaining in the second overtime period, senior Marisa Kanela sent a perfectly placed ball into the center box. Banks connected with the cross, heading a strong ball off the cross bar.
Today’s tie marks the first time since the 1997 season that West Virginia has posted back-to-back ties. It is also the first 0-0 tie since November 4, 2003 when the Mountaineers tied Villanova.
Junior goalkeeper Lana Bannerman earned her 19th-career shutout with the conclusion of today’s match. She is now one save away from second place on the WVU career shutout list.
West Virginia is back in action on Friday, Sept. 23, when it returns to BIG EAST play at Syracuse. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Following that contest, the Mountaineers return to Morgantown for a 1 p.m., contest against St. John’s on Sunday, Sept. 25 as part of Super Soccer Sunday.
West Virginia 0; William & Mary 0
Shots: WVU- 15; WM- 4
Corner Kicks: WVU- 8; WM - 2
Fouls: WVU- 10; WM - 10
Goalkeeping: WVU - Lana Bannerman, 110 minutes, two saves, 0 GA ; WM - Kellie Fenton 110 minutes, seven saves, 0 GA
