By Christopher Marshall for MSNsportsNET.com
November 30, 2007

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY | NCAA BRACKET

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Defender Kasey Johnson’s header in the 63rd minute gave second-seeded USC a 1-0 victory over fourth-seeded West Virginia in the quarterfinals of the 2007 NCAA Championships Friday night in front of a record crowd at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

“That was one of the best teams we have faced thus far. They are definitely in the category of Notre Dame or any national championship contender,” WVU Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “I don’t think they are missing anything.”

	Junior Deana Everrett takes a shot against a USC defender. All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks

The much bigger and more physical Trojan team gave the Mountaineers trouble in the second half, and USC outshot WVU 20-9 for the game. Despite only six shots on goal, the 20 shots are the most WVU has allowed this season.

“Usually when we line up against another opponent we pretty much dominate with regard to size. USC was big and very quick,” Izzo-Brown said. “When you get a quick and a big player it can give you trouble.”

Both teams had multiple chances in the first half with West Virginia’s best opportunity of the match coming when forward Deanna Everrett shot a low screamer just wide of the net in the 24th minute. Everrett led the Mountaineers with three shots on the evening, putting one on goal.

“We battled. We had our opportunities but it’s always a game of who is finishing the opportunities,” Izzo-Brown said. “You have to credit USC. They got the finish and we didn’t.”

West Virginia freshman goalkeeper Kerri Butler battled valiantly, making a flurry of second half saves to keep the Mountaineers in the game. Trojan midfielder Megan Ohai drilled a rocket from the top of the box toward the top left portion of the goal in the 61st minute. Butler jumped and somehow held onto the ball while fully extended. Butler made five stops on the night.

“Kerri (Butler) was brilliant tonight. She made some incredible saves to keep us in the game tonight,” Izzo-Brown said. “I am excited for her and what she can do in the rest of her career here.”

The game-winner came just two minutes later off the header from Johnson, just her second goal of the season. The play was set up when West Virginia defender Greer Barnes tripped a Trojan player from behind just outside the 18-yard-line. Midfielder Ashley Nick then served the free kick to the far post where defender Janessa Currier crossed the ball back to the middle to Johnson who placed the ball in the right side of the net.

“I thought we had a lot of good looks in the run of play and we were unfortunate not to finish off any of those opportunities,” USC Coach Ali Khosroshahin said. “Tournament play always comes down to set pieces. There are scenarios where the ball gets played in front of the box and if you have good positioning in there someone will get a good look. That is what happened today.”

USC advances to the College Cup in College Station, Texas, on Dec. 7, with a record of 18-3-2.

West Virginia’s record setting season ends in the Elite Eight with an overall record of 18-5-2. The Mountaineers put together the longest postseason run in the program’s 12-year history and tied the school record for wins with 18.

The unofficial crowd of 3,000 set a new Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium record and is the most for any soccer event hosted by West Virginia University.

“I’m so grateful for this West Virginia community. It was breathtaking at the end of the game when someone told me how many people were here,” Izzo-Brown said. “If you had had the chance to work with these special girls like I have, you would understand why it was so important for people to come out.”

Tonight was the last game for five WVU seniors: Ashley Banks, Kim Bonilla, Natalie Cocchi, Kiley Harris and Ashley Neal.

“As a coach your focus is on getting those special seniors there,” an exhausted Izzo-Brown said. “There is no other group of seniors I would want to represent this University. They are role models and great students. These kids are Elite Eight players and 3.8 GPA students, so what else can you say?”