Women's Soccer: Bonilla Scores Game Winner
October 21, 2007 04:08 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
October 21, 2007
BOX SCORE
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| Kim Bonilla |
VILLANOVA, Pa. – Senior forward Kim Bonilla netted the game’s only goal in the 49th minute to lead No. 25 West Virginia to a 1-0 win over Villanova Sunday afternoon at the West Campus Soccer Complex.
Senior forward Ashley Banks set up the game-winner after her shot attempt was denied in a scramble inside the box. Banks sent a brilliant pass through a crease in the middle of Villanova’s defense where Bonilla quickly turned from 12-yards out and struck the ball pass Wildcat goalkeeper Jillian Joyden. The goal is the fifth of the season for Bonilla and 22nd of her career.
“Our ladies worked so hard today and it was a total team effort,” said head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We scored six goals this weekend and figured out what it took to get two wins on the road.”
The Mountaineers dominated the midfield with solid play from juniors Amanda Cicchini and Lisa DuCote and sophomore Carolyn Blank. They set up several scoring opportunities as WVU outshot Villanova 21-14.
Banks, who recorded a hat trick on Friday at Georgetown, and true freshman Megan Mischler each took a game-high six shots.
True freshman Kerri Butler picked up her first career shutout, making three saves in goal for West Virginia. Butler came up with a big save three minutes into the match and held strong in the closing minutes on two Villanova corner kicks.
West Virginia’s win gave Villanova (8-3-6/2-3-4) its first home loss of the season and the Mountaineers have now won three straight over the Wildcats. Bonilla’s goal was only the 10th allowed by Loyden this season. Loyden finished with eight saves.
Twenty-three of West Virginia’s 33 goals this season have come in the second half. The Mountaineers are 6-1-1 in their last eight games.
WVU improves to 11-4-1 on the season, 7-1-1 in BIG EAST action. The Mountaineers close out the regular season with a pair of conference home matches. West Virginia welcomes USF on Friday, Oct. 26, and Marquette on Sunday, Oct. 28.
