Women's Soccer: Mountaineers Earn Fifth Shutout
September 30, 2005 10:01 PM | General
September 30, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The 21st-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team earned its fifth shutout of the year with a 1-0 victory over Rutgers Friday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
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| West Virginia's Marisa Kanela attempts a shot during Friday night's match with Rutgers at Dick Dlesk Stadium in Morgantown, W.Va. The Mountaineers won the match 1-0.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
West Virginia (5-3-3, 2-1-1) senior Marisa Kanela scored her third goal of the season when she converted a penalty kick at the 54:24 mark to give WVU the only score it would need. The Mountaineers had earned a corner kick off the previous play when Kanela was fouled in the Scarlet Knights (3-7-1, 0-4-0) box pursuing the deflection from junior Cathy Abel’s corner.
“Rutgers is a great team and its record simply doesn’t reflect that,” head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said following the match. “This was a battle, but we finished our chance and I’m proud of the effort this team put forth tonight.”
The Mountaineers staunch defense held Rutgers to only seven shots on the night and junior goalkeeper Lana Bannerman posted four saves to keep the Scarlet Knights scoreless. Bannerman’s best save of the night came 15 minutes following the WVU goal when Rutgers had a free kick about 30 yards out on the right side. RU’s Zoe Avner sailed a ball toward the center cross bar and Bannerman extended, punching the ball over the top of the goal. Minutes later the Naperville, Ill., native, thwarted another Scarlet Knight opportunity with a great hold on a close range shot from Domenique Esposito.
“Lana Bannerman played terrific tonight,” Izzo-Brown commented. “She kept us in the game with at least two great saves. She dominated the net tonight.”
With the shutout Bannerman now has 21 career saves, four shy of the school record.
WVU had several early chances in the contest, including a shot from freshman Deana Everrett that forced Rutgers goalkeeper Nora Crawford to make a diving save to her right a brief five minutes into the contest.
West Virginia returns to action with a 1 p.m., contest versus Seton Hall on Sunday, Oct. 2, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
West Virginia 1, Rutgers 0
Scoring: WVU - Kanela (penalty kick) 54:24
Shots: WVU - 13; RU - 7
Corner Kicks: WVU -6; RU - 4
Fouls: WVU - 15; RU- 11
Goalkeeping: WVU - Lana Bannerman 90 minutes, 4 saves, 0 GA; RU - Nora Crawford 90 minutes, 6 saves, 1 GA
