Women's Soccer: WVU Ready For Semifinals
November 06, 2008 04:45 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
November 6, 2008
 |
||
Game
Notes |
BIG EAST Bracket |
All-Time vs. UConn |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – For the second time this season the 12th-ranked West Virginia women’s soccer team will square off against the Connecticut Huskies. However, the stakes are much higher this time around with the teams meeting in Friday’s BIG EAST semifinals, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Alumni Field in Notre Dame, Ind.
West Virginia, which makes its seventh conference semifinals appearance, is 9-7-3 all-time in BIG EAST Championship matches. The Mountaineers and Huskies have met four times in league tournament action, with WVU’s lone win coming in 2001.
“Friday is going to be a battle,” said Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “Connecticut is fighting to keep their chances alive for an NCAA berth and we’re fighting to defend our BIG EAST Championship from last season.”
The Mountaineers enter the weekend on a seven-match (6-0-1) unbeaten streak. The three-time defending American Division BIG EAST champions earned the No. 1 seed in their half of the bracket. WVU is coming off a dominating 4-0 BIG EAST quarterfinal win over Louisville on Nov. 2.
The Huskies sport a 7-8-5 record through 20 games this season. Connecticut, the No. 3 seed in the American Division, is coming off a 2-1 win over Georgetown, the No. 2 seed in the National Division, in the BIG EAST quarterfinals on Nov. 2.
Connecticut, which has made all 26 NCAA tournaments, is led offensively by junior midfielder Anni Yi and senior forward Brittany Tegeler who combine for 10 goals on the season. The Huskies have posted double-digit shot attempts in all but two games this season, including a season-low four attempts against West Virginia.
Starting 19 of the 20 games in goal for the Huskies is Stephanie Labbe. The senior goalkeeper has allowed 21 goals in 1,827 minutes of action to go with 96 saves. A Hermann Trophy Watch List selection, Labbe also spent time working with the Canadian National Team this fall.
West Virginia and Connecticut meet for the 15th time with UConn holding an 11-2-1 lead in the all-time series. Earlier this season, the Mountaineers and Huskies played to a double overtime scoreless tie on Oct. 12 in Morgantown.
In the other half of the tournament bracket, National Division No. 1 seed Notre Dame plays host to American Division No. 2 seed Marquette in the second semifinal on Friday at 5 p.m. The winners of Friday’s semifinals will meet for the BIG EAST Championship tournament title at noon on Nov. 9.
Fans can watch the BIG EAST Championship semifinal and final round matches on television via CBS College Sports TV (formerly CSTV). Ann Schatz (play-by-play) and Tammy Blackburn (color) will call the action for all championship contests. Check your local listings for television stations and air times.
The championship matches will also be streamed live on the Internet for CBS College Sports TV subscribers. Fans can watch BIG EAST Championship matches for $7.95 by signing up for Mountaineer TV at www.MSNsportsNET.com.
