Women's Soccer: WVU Posts Third Straight Shutout
October 12, 2007 08:04 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
October 12, 2007
BOX SCORE
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| Natalie Cocchi |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The 21st-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team scored three second half goals in a 3-0 win at Providence’s Glay Field Friday afternoon in Providence, R.I. The shutout was the sixth of the season for the Mountaineers and third straight in BIG EAST Conference play.
After 60-plus minutes of scoreless soccer, senior defender Natalie Cocchi scored the game-winner off a header at the 64:12 mark. The Mountaineers dominated possession of the ball the entire match and had several scoring chances on Cocchi’s third goal of the season. The 5-foot-11 Cocchi headed in the ball after a scramble in the box for the 1-0 lead.
West Virginia found the net just five minutes later on a goal from junior Deana Everrett, her seventh of the year. The Friars cleared a ball from West Virginia just outside the 18 where junior Robin Rushton served a beautiful ball to Everrett. Everrett beat Providence goalkeeper Laura Elfers in the lower right corner of the goal in the 69th minute.
The Mountaineers added an insurance goal with less than three minutes remaining in the match to push the final score to 3-0. Sophomore midfielder Carolyn Blank won a head ball in the air, sending the ball to senior forward Kim Bonilla. Bonilla took the ball up the left side and found a wide open Ashley Banks in front of the net. Banks one-timed the ball into the net for her team-leading eighth goal of the season.
The Mountaineer defense was stout again, leaving goalkeeper Mallory Beck to register one save in the contest. West Virginia has not allowed a goal in the last 377 minutes and 36 seconds of action.
West Virginia outshot Providence 25 to two on the afternoon and took nine corner kicks to the Friars’ three. The Mountaineers improve to 9-3-1 (5-0-1 BIG EAST) while Providence drops to 2-10-1 (1-5-0 BIG EAST).
WVU is now 7-0 this season when scoring two or more goals and 18 of WVU’s 27 goals have come in the second half.
The Mountaineers travel to Manchester, Conn., tonight in preparation for Sunday’s match at 16th-ranked Connecticut. WVU and the Huskies are tied atop the BIG EAST American Division standings at 5-0-1. Kick off is slated for 1 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 14, at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium.
