Women's Soccer: Miller Nets Game-Winner In 2OT
October 17, 2008 10:34 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
October 17, 2008
| #16 Georgetown 1, #17 West Virginia 2 (2 OT) Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium Morgantown, W.Va. |
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Box Score |
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| Shots | 8 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shots on Goal | 2 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Saves | 8 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Corner Kicks | 6 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fouls | 16 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Top WVU Players | ||||||||||||||||||||
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MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – Freshman Blake Miller scored her third game-winning goal of the season less than three minutes into double overtime to lead 17th-ranked West Virginia past 16th-ranked Georgetown, 2-1, Friday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The victory, WVU’s first come-from-behind effort this season, is the third over a ranked opponent this year.
“Georgetown is a very good team,” said Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “But we battled hard and pounded the net offensively. We got behind but countered and scored when the pressure was on. And for that, I’m very proud of this team.”
Miller’s goal was the first in seven overtime matches this season for the Mountaineers. WVU had been held scoreless in the previous 124 minutes of overtime.
Senior Amanda Cicchini forced a corner kick in the second overtime, leading to Miller’s sixth goal of the year. Junior Nicole Mailloux served a ball into the middle that was knocked out to the top of the box where senior Kelsey Fowler mis-struck a shot attempt. The ball came rolling back to Fowler, who played it into Miller who turned and scored from six yards out.
“Blake Miller is this unpredictable, goal-scoring kind of kid. When recruiting and watching her, it was clear that she can put the ball in the back of the net,” said Izzo-Brown. “As a freshman she has really stepped up and has scored some really big goals for this team.”
Senior Greer Barnes kept the match alive in the 88th minute on her first goal of the season to knot the score at 1-1. Senior Deana Everrett took a quick throw-in, playing the ball to senior Robin Rushton. Rushton crossed the ball into the middle where Miller flicked the ball on to Barnes. Barnes perfectly tucked the ball over Hoya goalkeeper Jackie DesJardin into the top left corner.
Georgetown was held to few quality scoring chances but capitalized on one in the 71st minute. The Hoyas held possession and forced a two-on-one with WVU goalkeeper Kerri Butler to go on top, 1-0. Midfielder Stephanie Zare found forward Samantha Baker on the far side of the box, where Baker ripped a shot inside the far post.
The Mountaineers had several scoring chances throughout the match, registering 21 shots on the night, including 10 on-goal. Everrett led all players with seven shots.
Miller nearly gave WVU an early 1-0 lead in the 16th minute. The St. Louis, Mo., native received a ball deep inside the box and fired a shot the ricocheted off the left post and back across the goal line.
In the game’s 30th minute, Miller sent a nice through ball to Everrett where DesJardin madding a sliding save to prevent a Mountaineer goal. DesJardin finished with eight saves in 102 minutes of work between the posts.
“We’re still not finishing (scoring chances) like we need to,” said Izzo-Brown. “But getting two goals tonight is kind of a relief. We’ve played good enough to win all year long but played to some ties. Tonight we were good enough to win, and finally got that win.”
The second half featured more offense from West Virginia, including threats to score from senior Lisa DuCote and Everrett.
At 51:22, DuCote took a shot with DesJardin charging, sending the ball just wide of the near post.
Less than a minute later, Miller found Everrett in the middle where a scrambled ensued in the box. Everrett struck the ball while on the ground towards the net where a Georgetown defender cleared the ball for a team save.
The Everrett-Miller combination almost connected on the game-winner midway through the first overtime period. Everrett raced up the left flank and found Miller unmarked in front of the net, who was unable to get a touch on the cross.
The WVU defense held a dynamic Georgetown offense to only two shots on-goal. Butler was excellent again, making her only save on a diving stop to her left on a blistering shot from Baker in the 70th minute.
West Virginia moves to 9-2-5 (4-1-3) on the season while Georgetown goes to 10-2-2 (5-2-0).
The Mountaineers return to action on Sunday, Oct. 19, against Villanova in the final regular season home contest for eight seniors: Barnes, Cicchini, DuCote, Everrett, Fowler, Rushton, Stephanie Burgess and Michelle Molinari. The game will be televised statewide on WVPBS.
The match also marks the final “Dollar Day” at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. All tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas will be available for purchase for one dollar.
