Women's Soccer: Miller Nets Two Goals
October 01, 2010 08:59 PM | General
CINCINNATI – The West Virginia women’s soccer team rode a two-goal effort from junior forward Blake Miller to defeat Cincinnati, 4-0, Friday night at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Blake Miller gave the Mountaineers an early 1-0 lead off a header in front of the net at the 6:27 mark. The play started with defender Meghan Lewis pushing forward up the right side, sending a shot off the crossbar from 25 yards out. Forward Megan Mischler sent the rebound back into the middle, finding Miller who managed to knock in the game-winner past
UC goalkeeper Rachel Barnette.
Miller netted her second goal of the contest in the 56th minute, a rocket inside the box. Miller pushed the ball towards the end line and fired a shot into the upper left corner to complete the scoring. The two-goal effort was the first of Miller’s career as she now shows 18 goals in her career.
“Blake was unbelievable tonight and I am really proud of her play,” said coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “Her work rate on and off the ball tonight was brilliant. She was able to do a lot of good things and her speed of play was awesome.”
In the 15th minute, a persistent Mountaineer offense kept the ball in the right corner, drawing several throw-ins before earning their second corner kick. Defender Bry McCarthy found Drea Barklage at the back post where she headed the ball across the goal line. McCarthy picked up the assist, her second in as many matches.
WVU extended its lead to 3-0 in the 41st minute on Mischler’s second goal of the season. Midfielder Bri Rodriguez slotted a ball through the right side to a hustling Emily Dillon. Dillon one-timed the ball across the middle where Mischler struck the ball into the net for the score.
“The ladies came out and stuck to the game plan and executed it brilliantly,” said Izzo-Brown. “We beat a good Cincinnati team who knows how to play on turf.”
The Mountaineers again received strong play from their defense, keeping the Bearcats off the scoreboard. Goalkeeper Kerri Butler and her back line of Barklage, Lewis, McCarthy and Erica Henderson, recorded a shutout for the third straight match and sixth time this season.
“Our goal was to get a shutout and it was critical for the back line to play together to accomplish that,” said Izzo-Brown of her defense. “Cincinnati got dangerous a couple of times but Kerri was able to come up with some good saves. The whole back line did a great job tonight.”
Butler, who picked up her 38th career win, worked all 90 minutes in goal, making four stops on the night. The clean sheet also pushed her career total to 36, tying Lana Bannerman (2003-06) for the school’s all-time shutout leader.
Cincinnati’s best scoring opportunity came in the 38th minute on a shot from Katie Johnson following a Mountaineer foul outside the box. UC served a ball into the middle where WVU’s Butler came off her line to deflect the pass back into play. Johnson quickly took a shot that rattled the post for a near goal.
Bearcat forward Katie Greer had a fine look in the 65th minute following a clearance in the box by WVU’s Barklage. Greer took one dribble and blasted a shot over the crossbar from 20 yards out.
The stat sheet ended with West Virginia holding a 23-13 advantage in shots and an 8-2 edge in corner kicks.
Miller also found the right post on a shot in the 27th minute and tied her career high with six shots as 12 different Mountaineers recorded a shot. Greer and Johnson each came off the bench to take three shots for UC.
The Mountaineers improve to 6-4-1 (2-1-1 BIG EAST) on the season while the Bearcats dip to 6-5-1 (0-4-0 BIG EAST). WVU is 2-0 all-time against Cincinnati.
WVU continues its road trip with a conference match at Louisville on Sunday, Oct. 3. Kickoff at Cardinal Park Soccer and Track Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.
Blake Miller gave the Mountaineers an early 1-0 lead off a header in front of the net at the 6:27 mark. The play started with defender Meghan Lewis pushing forward up the right side, sending a shot off the crossbar from 25 yards out. Forward Megan Mischler sent the rebound back into the middle, finding Miller who managed to knock in the game-winner past
UC goalkeeper Rachel Barnette.
Miller netted her second goal of the contest in the 56th minute, a rocket inside the box. Miller pushed the ball towards the end line and fired a shot into the upper left corner to complete the scoring. The two-goal effort was the first of Miller’s career as she now shows 18 goals in her career.
“Blake was unbelievable tonight and I am really proud of her play,” said coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “Her work rate on and off the ball tonight was brilliant. She was able to do a lot of good things and her speed of play was awesome.”
In the 15th minute, a persistent Mountaineer offense kept the ball in the right corner, drawing several throw-ins before earning their second corner kick. Defender Bry McCarthy found Drea Barklage at the back post where she headed the ball across the goal line. McCarthy picked up the assist, her second in as many matches.
WVU extended its lead to 3-0 in the 41st minute on Mischler’s second goal of the season. Midfielder Bri Rodriguez slotted a ball through the right side to a hustling Emily Dillon. Dillon one-timed the ball across the middle where Mischler struck the ball into the net for the score.
“The ladies came out and stuck to the game plan and executed it brilliantly,” said Izzo-Brown. “We beat a good Cincinnati team who knows how to play on turf.”
The Mountaineers again received strong play from their defense, keeping the Bearcats off the scoreboard. Goalkeeper Kerri Butler and her back line of Barklage, Lewis, McCarthy and Erica Henderson, recorded a shutout for the third straight match and sixth time this season.
“Our goal was to get a shutout and it was critical for the back line to play together to accomplish that,” said Izzo-Brown of her defense. “Cincinnati got dangerous a couple of times but Kerri was able to come up with some good saves. The whole back line did a great job tonight.”
Butler, who picked up her 38th career win, worked all 90 minutes in goal, making four stops on the night. The clean sheet also pushed her career total to 36, tying Lana Bannerman (2003-06) for the school’s all-time shutout leader.
Cincinnati’s best scoring opportunity came in the 38th minute on a shot from Katie Johnson following a Mountaineer foul outside the box. UC served a ball into the middle where WVU’s Butler came off her line to deflect the pass back into play. Johnson quickly took a shot that rattled the post for a near goal.
Bearcat forward Katie Greer had a fine look in the 65th minute following a clearance in the box by WVU’s Barklage. Greer took one dribble and blasted a shot over the crossbar from 20 yards out.
The stat sheet ended with West Virginia holding a 23-13 advantage in shots and an 8-2 edge in corner kicks.
Miller also found the right post on a shot in the 27th minute and tied her career high with six shots as 12 different Mountaineers recorded a shot. Greer and Johnson each came off the bench to take three shots for UC.
The Mountaineers improve to 6-4-1 (2-1-1 BIG EAST) on the season while the Bearcats dip to 6-5-1 (0-4-0 BIG EAST). WVU is 2-0 all-time against Cincinnati.
WVU continues its road trip with a conference match at Louisville on Sunday, Oct. 3. Kickoff at Cardinal Park Soccer and Track Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.
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