Women's Soccer: No. 23 WVU Routs Connecticut
October 22, 2010 10:32 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 23 West Virginia women’s soccer team routed visiting Connecticut, 3-0, Friday evening at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Mountaineers received a pair of one-goal, one-assist efforts from forward Blake Miller and midfielder Caroline Szwed, and rookie forward Emily Dillon notched her first career score in the victory.
The Mountaineers have won a program-best eight consecutive BIG EAST matches while pushing their record to 12-4-1 (8-1-1). WVU has locked up second place in the American Division, behind preseason favorite Marquette.
“We beat a very good Connecticut team and I’m proud of the effort our ladies gave tonight,” said coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We were able to handle their pressure early, but they just keep coming at you. Fortunately, we were able to create and finish our scoring chances.”
West Virginia got on the board early with a goal at the 3:12 mark off the head of Szwed. Defender Meghan Lewis pushed forward, drawing a foul from a Huskie defender, setting up a free kick opportunity. Defender Bry McCarthy served a ball deep inside the box where Szwed lined the ball into the back of the net for her second goal of the season.
“Lewis was tackled hard to set things up and Bry served a perfect ball,” said Szwed. “Fortunately, I was on the receiving end of her pass and got a head on it. I think that goal gave the team a nice boost to start the game.”
“Szwed was excellent tonight,” said Izzo-Brown. “She does things for us that don’t always make the stat sheet. So, for her to score a goal and get another assist is very deserving.”
The Mountaineers were dominant in the first 25 minutes of the opening half before Connecticut evened the play by halftime. UConn held a 5-4 edge in shots with its best look coming off a shot from midfielder Elise Fugowski. Fugowski took the ball to the end line before sending a bending shot at the near post that drifted wide of the goal.
After a 1-0 lead, West Virginia doubled its score in the 53rd minute on Miller’s team-leading ninth goal of the season. Szwed settled a ball under pressure, giving a short pass to Miller at the top of the box. Miller quickly volleyed the shot towards the right side, skimming the inside of the post for the goal.
“Blake is a very dynamic player who creates problems for opposing teams,” said Izzo-Brown. “She’s playing with some confidence right now and the only obstacle in her way is herself. She was excellent tonight.”
WVU forward Megan Mischler kept the pressure coming with a shot off the crossbar less than two minutes after Miller’s goal. The senior worked her way past a UConn defender on the left side and blasted a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar.
Goalkeeper Kerri Butler turned in perhaps her finest performance of the season in picking up her 10th shutout of the year. The senior made six saves on the night, coming in a variety of ways. Butler stopped a breakaway, made diving stops and pushed balls wide of the goal in keeping UConn off the board.
“Kerri played great, and really has been solid all year long,” said Izzo-Brown. “She came up with big save after big save and really earned that shutout.”
The Huskies’ best scoring chance of the match came in the 64th minute on a breakaway attempt from Meghan Cunningham. Cunningham received the ball at midfield and raced down field with defenders trailing the play. Butler came low off her line and made a sliding save on Cunningham’s shot toward the right side.
Moments later, Butler came up with two more saves by laying out to her right, forcing a ball wide of the goal, and then punching a ball over the crossbar on a shot that nearly tucked under the piping.
“The backline and Kerri don’t get enough credit,” said Szwed. “Kerri played the best game I have ever seen a goalie play. She was that good.”
Dillon rounded out the scoring in the 87th minute on a one-timer in front of the net. Miller fancied her way past a Huskie defender on the left flank before slotting a ball into the middle where Dillion found the back of the net to make it 3-0.
“It was exciting for Dillon to get her first goal,” added Izzo-Brown. “She’s another young pup that has been getting close and finally got one tonight. She put herself in position to make a play and finished it.”
Connecticut (8-7-3, 4-4-2) finished with a 15-8 edge in shots, several from long range, and held a 5-2 corner kick advantage.
UConn’s Erin Clark and Jessica Shufelt each attempted three shots while goalie Jessica Dulski made two stops in the loss.
West Virginia has posted six shutouts and outscored its opponents 21-4 during its current win streak.
Next up for the Mountaineers is a home contest against Providence in the regular season finale on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. The match is also “Senior Day” for six seniors: Butler, Cassandra Deitrick, Kristen Felice, Ashtin Larkin, Sydney Metheny and Mischler.
Free WVU student shuttle bus service will be available for Sunday’s match from the Mountainlair & the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop from noon to 1 p.m. Return service to the Mountainlair & the Brooke/Braxton Towers will also be available at the conclusion of the match.
The Mountaineers have won a program-best eight consecutive BIG EAST matches while pushing their record to 12-4-1 (8-1-1). WVU has locked up second place in the American Division, behind preseason favorite Marquette.
“We beat a very good Connecticut team and I’m proud of the effort our ladies gave tonight,” said coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We were able to handle their pressure early, but they just keep coming at you. Fortunately, we were able to create and finish our scoring chances.”
West Virginia got on the board early with a goal at the 3:12 mark off the head of Szwed. Defender Meghan Lewis pushed forward, drawing a foul from a Huskie defender, setting up a free kick opportunity. Defender Bry McCarthy served a ball deep inside the box where Szwed lined the ball into the back of the net for her second goal of the season.
“Lewis was tackled hard to set things up and Bry served a perfect ball,” said Szwed. “Fortunately, I was on the receiving end of her pass and got a head on it. I think that goal gave the team a nice boost to start the game.”
“Szwed was excellent tonight,” said Izzo-Brown. “She does things for us that don’t always make the stat sheet. So, for her to score a goal and get another assist is very deserving.”
The Mountaineers were dominant in the first 25 minutes of the opening half before Connecticut evened the play by halftime. UConn held a 5-4 edge in shots with its best look coming off a shot from midfielder Elise Fugowski. Fugowski took the ball to the end line before sending a bending shot at the near post that drifted wide of the goal.
After a 1-0 lead, West Virginia doubled its score in the 53rd minute on Miller’s team-leading ninth goal of the season. Szwed settled a ball under pressure, giving a short pass to Miller at the top of the box. Miller quickly volleyed the shot towards the right side, skimming the inside of the post for the goal.
“Blake is a very dynamic player who creates problems for opposing teams,” said Izzo-Brown. “She’s playing with some confidence right now and the only obstacle in her way is herself. She was excellent tonight.”
WVU forward Megan Mischler kept the pressure coming with a shot off the crossbar less than two minutes after Miller’s goal. The senior worked her way past a UConn defender on the left side and blasted a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar.
Goalkeeper Kerri Butler turned in perhaps her finest performance of the season in picking up her 10th shutout of the year. The senior made six saves on the night, coming in a variety of ways. Butler stopped a breakaway, made diving stops and pushed balls wide of the goal in keeping UConn off the board.
“Kerri played great, and really has been solid all year long,” said Izzo-Brown. “She came up with big save after big save and really earned that shutout.”
The Huskies’ best scoring chance of the match came in the 64th minute on a breakaway attempt from Meghan Cunningham. Cunningham received the ball at midfield and raced down field with defenders trailing the play. Butler came low off her line and made a sliding save on Cunningham’s shot toward the right side.
Moments later, Butler came up with two more saves by laying out to her right, forcing a ball wide of the goal, and then punching a ball over the crossbar on a shot that nearly tucked under the piping.
“The backline and Kerri don’t get enough credit,” said Szwed. “Kerri played the best game I have ever seen a goalie play. She was that good.”
Dillon rounded out the scoring in the 87th minute on a one-timer in front of the net. Miller fancied her way past a Huskie defender on the left flank before slotting a ball into the middle where Dillion found the back of the net to make it 3-0.
“It was exciting for Dillon to get her first goal,” added Izzo-Brown. “She’s another young pup that has been getting close and finally got one tonight. She put herself in position to make a play and finished it.”
Connecticut (8-7-3, 4-4-2) finished with a 15-8 edge in shots, several from long range, and held a 5-2 corner kick advantage.
UConn’s Erin Clark and Jessica Shufelt each attempted three shots while goalie Jessica Dulski made two stops in the loss.
West Virginia has posted six shutouts and outscored its opponents 21-4 during its current win streak.
Next up for the Mountaineers is a home contest against Providence in the regular season finale on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. The match is also “Senior Day” for six seniors: Butler, Cassandra Deitrick, Kristen Felice, Ashtin Larkin, Sydney Metheny and Mischler.
Free WVU student shuttle bus service will be available for Sunday’s match from the Mountainlair & the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop from noon to 1 p.m. Return service to the Mountainlair & the Brooke/Braxton Towers will also be available at the conclusion of the match.
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