Knocking off Nova
October 13, 2006 10:35 PM | General
October 13, 2006
BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The No. 7 West Virginia University women’s soccer team won its fourth straight BIG EAST conference game with a sudden-victory goal against No. 23 Villanova Friday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Kelsey Fowler's goal marked just the third time that Villanova had been scored on all season.
 |
||
| Kelsey Fowler tallied her second career goal to knock off No. 23 Villanova Friday night.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
The win moves West Virginia to 12-1-2 with a 6-1-1 conference mark and snaps Villanova’s 15-game unbeaten streak this season. The Wildcats drop to 13-1-2 and 5-1-2 in conference play.
“This was just a great win for us,” Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “They had only been scored twice this year and it was so hard to get by their defense. They were able to hold up our offense inside in the 18-yard box very well, but we had a game plan and fortunately it worked out in the end.”
With just under four minutes remaining in the game, the Mountaineers were able to put together one final push to set up the game-winning goal by Fowler, a sophomore midfielder. After a scramble in front of the net, freshman defender Carolyn Blank found herself with the ball deep in the left corner of Villanova’s 18-yard box.
Blank turned away from the net and sent the ball back to sophomore midfielder Greer Barnes, who chipped in a cross that landed right at the feet of Fowler at the goalmouth. Fowler, shoulder-to-shoulder with a Wildcat defender, made a sliding left-footed shot that slipped past Wildcat goalie Jillian Loyden into the right corner of the net to end the game in the 106th minute.
“We knew it was going to be tough to score with their goalkeeper being so good,” Izzo-Brown said. “Carolyn really set up that opportunity for us and Greer showed great vision by getting the ball into Fowler.”
Fowler’s game-winning goal was just the second goal of her career -- both coming this year. The Wheeling, W.Va., native has steadily seen more action in the outside midfield since the Mountaineers entered conference play.
West Virginia outshot the Wildcats 16-11 in regulation but was unable to find the back of the net -- largely because of Loyden who made six saves. The goal was the first Loyden had given up in the last five games.
“Both teams had a few opportunities early in the game and just couldn’t put them away,” said Izzo-Brown.
Villanova had one of their best opportunities to get on the scoreboard in the 16th minute when Erin Byrnes had a one-on-one opportunity with WVU goalkeeper Lana Bannerman, but Byrnes’ shot was knocked away by Bannerman at the top of the 18-yard box to keep the game scoreless.
Bannerman, the reigning BIG EAST goalkeeper of the week, tallied three saves to pick up her fourth straight BIG EAST shutout and her ninth of the season.
The Mountaineers are now 14-0 in their last 14 home games with their last loss coming to Georgetown in 2004. Those same Hoyas face WVU on Sunday, Oct. 15, at 1 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Sunday’s game is “Dollar Day”, with all tickets being sold for $1. In addition, all 16-ounce Coca-Colas, popcorn and hot dogs will also be sold for $1.
