Women’s Soccer: Virginia Rematch On Sunday
November 15, 2008 12:57 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
November 15, 2008
GAME NOTES | NCAA BRACKET
 |
||
| Greer Barnes |
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The 12th-ranked West Virginia women’s soccer team battles ninth-ranked Virginia in NCAA Second Round action Sunday, Nov. 16, in Charlottesville, Va. Kickoff at Klöckner Stadium is scheduled for noon.
West Virginia defeated Princeton on Friday, 2-1, moving to the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in school history. Virginia posted a 2-0 shutout against Army in NCAA First Round action.
The Mountaineers and Cavaliers meet for the second time this season, with WVU posting a 3-0 shutout in Morgantown on Sept. 21. West Virginia, however, is 1-4-0 all-time against Virginia in matches played at Klöckner Stadium.
“We have a tall task ahead of us but this team is excited,” said Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We made the most of our opportunities in our first meeting this season. Sunday will be much tougher but our ladies are excited for the challenge.”
WVU is riding a nine-match unbeaten streak (7-0-2) entering Sunday’s contest. Forward Blake Miller leads the Mountaineer offense with 10 goals, a school record for freshmen goals. A stingy West Virginia defense has allowed only 10 goals this season, to go with 13 shutouts.
“I’m excited to face Virginia again,” said All-America defender Greer Barnes. “They are traditionally one of the top teams in the country and we like to play those types of teams. We need to get out early on them like we did the first time we played. It should be a very competitive game.”
UVA, led by ninth-year Head Coach Steve Swanson, brings a record of 14-4-3 into Sunday’s contest. He has led his teams to NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in seven of the past nine years.
The Cavaliers have played the entire season without First Team Freshman All-America goalkeeper Chantel Jones. Jones is redshirting the season after being called up to play with the U.S. National Team, putting Celeste Miles in goal. Miles, a senior, has allowed nine goals in 1,949 minutes to go with nine shutouts this season.
A year ago, Virginia led the nation with a 0.40 goals-against average and set school records with 15 shutouts and 10 goals allowed all season. Anchoring that group were center backs Becky Sauerbrunn and Nikki Krzysik, both First Team All-Americans. Krzysik, returns to UVA this season and has played every minute of all 21 matches in 2008. She was recently named the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Midfielder Sinead Farrelly is a two-time First Team All-ACC selection. Farrelly, only a sophomore, has started all 21 games for Virginia and has posted five goals and three assists.
Forwards Meghan Lenczyk and Lauren Alwine lead the offensive attack, each registering a team-best 23 points on the year. Lenczyk leads the team in goals with 11 while Alwine leads the team in assists with 13.
All-America forward Jess Rostedt has started only 11 matches this season but is healthy heading into the NCAA tournament. The junior has recorded three goals and one assist in 14 matches.
WVU is 9-8 all-time in NCAA tournament play, including a 0-2 mark against Virginia in the national tournament.
The Mountaineers are one of three BIG EAST teams still alive in the 2008 NCAA Championships. Top ranked and No. 1 seed Notre Dame plays host to Michigan State, while Rutgers plays host to Oklahoma State on Sunday.
