Super Soccer Sunday
September 25, 2005 06:27 PM | General
September 25, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The 23rd-ranked West Virginia women’s soccer team earned its 125th win with a 3-0 shutout of St. John’s on Super Soccer Sunday at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The Mountaineers (4-3-1, 1-1-1) used goals from a senior, a sophomore and a freshman to move the program’s all-time record to 125-55-14.
“Getting a milestone win like this makes me step back and think of all the people who have contributed to the program over the years,” commented head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown following the win, which is also her 125th career victory at West Virginia. “I have a great staff and we have wonderful alumni and I’m very appreciative of them. A win like this brings back a lot of memories of great things.
“I think we came ready to play today,” Izzo-Brown continued. “We had a tough match at Syracuse on Friday and today we finally capitalized on our opportunities. We were determined and we came to play for 90 minutes.
Senior Rachael Minnich scored her second goal of the weekend, her third of the season, at the 29:02 mark when she ran onto a ball sent into the box from senior defender Kambria Riggins. Minnich used a bicycle kick to flick ball over her head as she fell to the ground, beating SJU goalkeeper Rebecca Capinera to the upper left corner.
Minnich contributed again, this time on an assist, when she flicked a ball from Kelsey Fowler’s corner kick in the direction of Krystle Kallman. Kallman one-timed a 20-yarder past Capinera for her first collegiate score in the match’s 42nd minute, giving the Mountaineers a 2-0 lead at the half.
2004 BIG EAST co-rookie of the year Ashley Banks got the Mountaineers’ third goal of the match, heading in her first goal of the season off a corner kick from senior Marisa Kanela at the 85:30 mark.
Once again, the Mountaineers dominated the shot column, allowing St. John’s only one shot all match while producing 23 of their own. The West Virginia defense played solid in WVU’s fourth shutout of the season, never really allowing the Red Storm a legitimate scoring opportunity. Likewise, for the second straight match, the defense did not allow a single corner kick. West Virginia took 10 corner kicks in the match, two of which resulted in scores.
“Our defense played with constant focus and 100 percent effort today,” said Izzo-Brown. “I’m proud of the way they stood firm and denied St. John’s any offensive opportunities.
West Virginia remains in Morgantown for a weekend of BIG EAST matches beginning with a 7 p.m., contest against Rutgers on Friday, Sept. 30. The Mountaineers will then play host to Seton Hall at 1 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 2.
West Virginia 3, St. John's 0
Scoring: WVU - Minnich (Riggins) 29:02; WVU - Kallman (Minnich, Fowler)41:43; WVU - Banks (Kanela) 85:30
Shots: WVU -23; SJU - 1
Corner Kicks: WVU - 10; SJU -1
Fouls: WVU - 6; SJU - 6
Goalkeeping: Lana Bannerman, 90 minutes, 0 saves, 0 GA; SJU - Rebecca Capinera, 90 minutes, 10 saves, 3 GA
WVU Men Down Depaul
By Scott Castleman for MSNsportsNet.com
September 25, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University men’s soccer team ended its two-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon by defeating DePaul 2-0 at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
“Today was a great win and I’m proud of the way the guys rebounded from Friday’s match,” said head coach Mike Seabolt. “Getting back to .500 in conference play was extremely important.”
The Mountaineers (5-4-0, 2-2-0 BIG EAST) pounced on the Blue Demons (2-4-2, 0-3-1 BIG EAST) early in the match with a goal from senior Devon McTavish in the 15th minute of play. The Winchester, Va.., native took advantage of Seabolt moving him from defender back to the midfield. McTavish slipped in to a seam of the DePaul defense 18 yards out and collected a perfectly passed ball from Jarrod Smith to tally his first goal of the season.
After the goal, the Blue Demons applied more offensive pressure for the rest of the half and forced WVU goalkeeper Nick Noble to make several breathtaking saves to keep the score 1-0 at the half.
Through 87 minutes of play McTavish’s goal stood as the only shot on goal that the Mountaineers could muster, while DePaul peppered Noble with six. But in the 88th minute of play Zak Boggs received a pass from midfielder Dan Stratford in front of the goal and delivered the second and final blow to DePaul and help WVU escape with the 2-0 victory.
West Virginia is now an impressive 12-2-1 since beginning play at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in 2004.
The win gives the team its fifth shutout victory this season. The Mountaineers are well within reach of breaking the school record for shutouts in a year with 10 games to play as the 1989 and ‘98 teams both recorded nine.
Noble’s 14 career shutouts currently put him in a tie with George DeAlmeida for fourth overall in school history. His 3,784 career minutes played ranks fourth best in school history as well.
The Mountaineers return to play on Wednesday, Sept. 28 when they face Robert Morris at 7 p.m. at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown.
