Women's Soccer: WVU Set For Sunday Quarterfinals
October 29, 2010 01:33 PM | General
BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKETMORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 18 West Virginia women’s soccer team begins its quest for a BIG EAST Championship with a home quarterfinal match against Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The Mountaineers are riding a nine-match win streak, the nation’s eighth longest streak. WVU is coming off a 2-1 win over Providence behind second-half goals from Drea Barklage and Frances Silva in the regular-season finale.
“The goal for every team at the end of the year is to extend your season,” said coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “Right now, we are very focused on playing a tough Rutgers team. They are a talented group who brings a high level of intensity to the field.”
WVU, 13-4-1 on the season, has qualified for the BIG EAST tournament in 11 straight years, only Connecticut and Rutgers have equaled the feat. West Virginia has advanced to the semifinal round in five consecutive seasons.
Three Mountaineers have recorded points in BIG EAST tournament play in their careers: Blake Miller (1G, 1A), Erica Henderson (1G) and Chelsey Corroto (1A).
West Virginia is 10-8-4 all-time in BIG EAST Championship matches, including a 4-1-2 mark in its last seven tournament games. The Mountaineers are 9-4-1 all-time against Rutgers, including a 5-0-0 mark at home. The last four meetings, however, have been decided by one-goal margins.
“When it gets to postseason play, everyone seems to tighten up defensively,” said Izzo-Brown. “Rutgers doesn’t let teams put a lot of goals on the board. Sunday will likely be another close game that goes down to the wire.”
Rutgers is led by coach Glenn Crooks, now in his 11th season. RU, which returned eight starters from a year ago and 87 percent of its offense heading into the season, holds a 10-8-1 record, 5-5-1 mark in league play.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 3-0 home victory over Louisville in the regular-season finale. RU features a balanced offensive attack with three players totalling 10 or more points: April Price (5G, 2A), Jonelle Filigno (4G, 4A) and Karla Schacher (5G, 1A).
“Rutgers has a lot of returning players with postseason experience,” said Izzo-Brown. “Only their goalie is new to the extended season. So, they will try and build off that with having a more veteran team than us.”
Defensively, Rutgers is allowing less than one goal per game to go with eight shutouts on the season, led by first-year starting goalkeeper Emmy Simpkins.
“Our ladies are excited to get out and play at home one more time,” said Izzo-Brown. “These ladies have worked hard all season long and would like to keep that goal alive of winning a BIG EAST title.”
Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $3 for youth and senior citizens. Rutgers and West Virginia students are admitted free with a valid student ID.
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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