Elite Eight Bound
November 24, 2007 03:36 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
November 24, 2007
BOX SCORE | NCAA BRACKET
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| Krystle Kallman |
The Mountaineers (18-4-2) dominated play from the opening whistle and a persistent offensive attack paid off on Kallman’s second goal of the season. The only goal of the contest was set up by junior midfielder Amanda Cicchini who was fouled from behind giving WVU a free kick from 30-yards out.
Cicchini also served the ball to Kallman who headed the ball towards the top right corner of the net. Penn State goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was able to get one hand on the ball and it bounced off the post and back into the net for the game-winner.
“I always start on set pieces kind of far out so I don't look like a threat,” said Kallman of the game-winner. “Then as Chicky was running to it, I just kind of took off towards her and then just cut to goal and got lucky.”
Cicchini’s assist was the fourth of the season for the Oakville, Ontario, native. The assist also moved the team’s season assist total to 47, a new school record.
The loss was the first at Jeffrey Field by Penn State in its last 22 games and the first NCAA home loss for the Nittany Lions since 2004 against Maryland.
“It was a hard-fought game and this Penn State team has had so much success at Jeffrey Field,” said head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We knew it was going to take something special to beat a team of Penn State’s caliber. We finally finished our opportunity and it was a great, great win.”
WVU’s front line of Ashley Banks, Kim Bonilla, Deana Everrett and Kiley Harris combined for 18 shots, two more than Penn State’s team total of 16. The Mountaineers finished with 25 shots, the 17th time this season WVU has registered 20 or more shots in a game.
“I think that each line – the backs, the midfield, the forwards – we apply great pressure that made them give up the ball with a bad touch,” said Banks. “And from that type of pressure, we built on it. We finally finished the opportunity we needed to. We were knocking and I think that pressure definitely helped.”
The Mountaineers received outstanding play from all 12 participants including goalkeeper Kerri Butler. The freshman was great coming off her line all day and made a huge save in the second half. Trailing 1-0 in the 73rd minute, PSU’s Danielle Toney used her speed to get behind the Mountaineer defense. Butler charged off her line and made a diving save on the ball to stop the one-on-one opportunity.
Penn State's offense struggled to find any rhythm against a stout Mountaineer defense that posted its 13th shutout of the season, tying the school record set a year ago. WVU has now posted five shutouts in its last six games.
West Virginia had another scoring chance in the 53rd minute when Bonilla was stopped on a diving save by Naeher. Bonilla made a run into the box on a serve from Lisa DuCote in transition.
WVU was unlucky in the opening 45 minutes of play, finding the crossbar twice and firing 10 first half shots.
Four minutes into the match, Bonilla sent a beautiful cross to Everrett who was left wide-open from six-yards out. Everrett’s shot nailed the crossbar and her rebound shot was stopped by a PSU defender.
In the game’s 24th minute, Bonilla hit the crossbar on a far shot from the left flank.
“There might be one place we've gone this year, and I can't remember where right now, that we didn't hit a post. Now that is a big stat,” laughed Izzo-Brown. “Everywhere we go, we have to ring the post or the crossbar.”
West Virginia, which tied a school record for most wins in a season with 18, has never played a game in the month of December. The Mountaineers await the winner of tonight’s match between second-seed USC and third-seed Florida. No game time or location has been established.
“It feels great. I think as a coach, you're always knowing and hoping that you get to go there,” said Izzo-Brown of advancing to the Elite Eight. “Especially for our seniors, to experience it themselves after all the hard work is very nice. This is something our players can tell their grandchildren about someday. And it’s history in our program, so it feels good, it feels very good.”
The Mountaineers are one of three BIG EAST teams to advance to the Elite Eight as all three teams defeated No. 1 seeds in their portion of the bracket. Unseeded-Connecticut defeated top-seed Stanford yesterday, 2-0, while fourth-seed Notre Dame downed defending national champion and top-seed North Carolina, 3-2, earlier today.
