Women's Soccer: WVU vs. BC In Sweet 16
November 18, 2010 11:17 AM | General
NEWTON, Mass. – The No. 7 West Virginia women’s soccer team travels to Newton, Mass., for a NCAA “Sweet 16” contest on Friday, Nov. 19, against No. 16 Boston College. Kickoff at Newton Campus Soccer Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.
West Virginia, the No. 3 seed in its regional, defeated Morehead State and Penn State at home to advance to its second NCAA Round of 16 since 2007. The Mountaineers hold an 18-4-1 record after winning the 2010 BIG EAST Championship.
Boston College, the No. 2 seed in its regional, recorded home wins over Boston and Hofstra to make its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Round of 16. The Eagles sport a 15-6-1 record and knocked off then-No. 1 North Carolina, 3-2, on Sept. 23 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
“We are excited to play such a quality opponent like Boston College,” says coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “They are a physical, yet very talented and technical team. Friday will be challenging against a more veteran team, but one that our ladies are looking forward to.”
Alison Foley is in her 15th season as the coach of the Eagles. Boston College has competed in 14 NCAA tournaments, including 10 under Foley’s guidance.
The Eagles returned nine starters this season, including six of their top seven scorers, from last year’s NCAA Elite Eight team that netted 55 goals.
Boston College, winners of five of its last seven matches, has been shutout only three times in 22 matches this season. Leading the offensive attack is a pair of double-digit scorers in forwards Victoria DeMartino (13G, 8A) and Kristie Mewis (10G, 12A).
Mewis and DiMartino were named first team all-ACC, while midfielder Julia Bouchelle was named to the second team and midfielder Patrice Vettori landed a spot on the all-freshmen team.
“DeMartino is natural goal scorer and Mewis is a natural playmaker,” says Izzo-Brown. “They also have a strong defense led by an experienced goalkeeper.”
Senior captain Chelsea Regan is a four-year starter along the back line. Goalkeeper Jill Mastroianni has started all 22 matches, allowing 20 goals and recording seven shutouts, and was named to the ACC all-tournament team.
The Mountaineers are paced by all-BIG EAST performers Bri Rodriguez and Blake Miller. The two combine for 17 goals and 16 assists on the season. Rookie forward Frances Silva has scored at least one point in five of the last nine contests.
West Virginia’s defense is led by all-BIG EAST goalkeeper Kerri Butler, the program’s leader in career shutouts. Butler and her back line have recorded a school record 14 shutouts this season and have allowed only one goal in the last five matches.
Butler and defender Erica Henderson are the only Mountaineers to have played every minute of every match this season – 2,111 minutes.
West Virginia is ranked No. 7 in the latest Soccer America poll and No. 14 in the NSCAA coaches poll. BC checks in at No. 16 in Soccer America and at No. 18 in the coaches poll.
WVU is 5-0-1 all-time against BC, including a 3-0-0 road record against the Eagles. The teams last met in 2004 when both teams were members of the BIG EAST.
The Mountaineers have won 14 consecutive matches, the second longest streak in the nation – trailing only top-ranked Stanford. West Virginia is 7-3 in its last 10 NCAA matches.
West Virginia is one of a four BIG EAST teams, a league record, competing in Round of 16 matches this weekend.
The winner of Friday's match moves on to face the Boston UC Irvine-Washington victor. That match would take place on Nov. 26, 27 or 28.
Fans can follow live in-game statistics and play-by-play online through GameTracker on MSNsportsNET.com.
West Virginia, the No. 3 seed in its regional, defeated Morehead State and Penn State at home to advance to its second NCAA Round of 16 since 2007. The Mountaineers hold an 18-4-1 record after winning the 2010 BIG EAST Championship.
Boston College, the No. 2 seed in its regional, recorded home wins over Boston and Hofstra to make its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Round of 16. The Eagles sport a 15-6-1 record and knocked off then-No. 1 North Carolina, 3-2, on Sept. 23 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
“We are excited to play such a quality opponent like Boston College,” says coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “They are a physical, yet very talented and technical team. Friday will be challenging against a more veteran team, but one that our ladies are looking forward to.”
Alison Foley is in her 15th season as the coach of the Eagles. Boston College has competed in 14 NCAA tournaments, including 10 under Foley’s guidance.
The Eagles returned nine starters this season, including six of their top seven scorers, from last year’s NCAA Elite Eight team that netted 55 goals.
Boston College, winners of five of its last seven matches, has been shutout only three times in 22 matches this season. Leading the offensive attack is a pair of double-digit scorers in forwards Victoria DeMartino (13G, 8A) and Kristie Mewis (10G, 12A).
Mewis and DiMartino were named first team all-ACC, while midfielder Julia Bouchelle was named to the second team and midfielder Patrice Vettori landed a spot on the all-freshmen team.
“DeMartino is natural goal scorer and Mewis is a natural playmaker,” says Izzo-Brown. “They also have a strong defense led by an experienced goalkeeper.”
Senior captain Chelsea Regan is a four-year starter along the back line. Goalkeeper Jill Mastroianni has started all 22 matches, allowing 20 goals and recording seven shutouts, and was named to the ACC all-tournament team.
The Mountaineers are paced by all-BIG EAST performers Bri Rodriguez and Blake Miller. The two combine for 17 goals and 16 assists on the season. Rookie forward Frances Silva has scored at least one point in five of the last nine contests.
West Virginia’s defense is led by all-BIG EAST goalkeeper Kerri Butler, the program’s leader in career shutouts. Butler and her back line have recorded a school record 14 shutouts this season and have allowed only one goal in the last five matches.
Butler and defender Erica Henderson are the only Mountaineers to have played every minute of every match this season – 2,111 minutes.
West Virginia is ranked No. 7 in the latest Soccer America poll and No. 14 in the NSCAA coaches poll. BC checks in at No. 16 in Soccer America and at No. 18 in the coaches poll.
WVU is 5-0-1 all-time against BC, including a 3-0-0 road record against the Eagles. The teams last met in 2004 when both teams were members of the BIG EAST.
The Mountaineers have won 14 consecutive matches, the second longest streak in the nation – trailing only top-ranked Stanford. West Virginia is 7-3 in its last 10 NCAA matches.
West Virginia is one of a four BIG EAST teams, a league record, competing in Round of 16 matches this weekend.
The winner of Friday's match moves on to face the Boston UC Irvine-Washington victor. That match would take place on Nov. 26, 27 or 28.
Fans can follow live in-game statistics and play-by-play online through GameTracker on MSNsportsNET.com.
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