Women's Soccer: Pitt Showdown Thursday
September 15, 2010 01:48 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia women’s soccer team opens BIG EAST Conference play Thursday, Sept. 16, with a 7 p.m. match against Pitt at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
“Thursday is a big game for us as the conference season begins,” says coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We have been tested early in the season to help us prepare for the BIG EAST portion of our schedule.
“The Pitt match is always a battle and our ladies know we will be challenged from the opening whistle. They return a lot of their starters and bring a hard-nosed mentality to the field each time out.”
The Mountaineers are coming off an impressive 4-0 shutout over Florida Atlantic at the Hurricane Cup in Coral Gables, Fla. Defenders Drea Barklage, Meghan Lewis and Mallory Smith, along with forward Blake Miller, netted goals in the victory.
The Mountaineers are 11-2-1 all-time against the Panthers, including a 6-0 mark at home. The two teams played to a 1-1 double overtime draw last season in Indianola, Pa.
Pitt is led by eighth-year coach Sue-Moy Chin and returns eight starters and 18 letterwinners from last season. The Panthers have qualified for the BIG EAST Championships in three of the last five seasons and field a tough, defensive-minded unit this season.
The Panthers are led by all-BIG EAST performers Katelyn Ruhe and Liz Carroll, and sophomore Ashley Cuba. Cuba leads the team in goals with four on a team-best 31 shots. Ruhe and Carroll combine for one goal and seven assists to anchor the midfield position. In net, goalkeeper Morie Kephart has played all 740 minutes, making 25 saves and recording two shutouts.
WVU is 7-6-1 all-time in BIG EAST openers since joining the league in 1996. For the sixth straight year, West Virginia and Pitt will kick off conference play against each other.
The Mountaineers welcome fifth-ranked Virginia on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m. The contest is also “Dollar Day” with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas available for purchase for just one dollar. Sunday’s match is also Alumni Weekend, honoring former Mountaineers who have donned the Old Gold and Blue and will be the celebration of US Youth Soccer Month.
Fans unable to attend the match can follow the Mountaineers at home all season long via Live Stats and a free WebStream at MSNsportsNET.com.
“Thursday is a big game for us as the conference season begins,” says coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We have been tested early in the season to help us prepare for the BIG EAST portion of our schedule.
“The Pitt match is always a battle and our ladies know we will be challenged from the opening whistle. They return a lot of their starters and bring a hard-nosed mentality to the field each time out.”
The Mountaineers are coming off an impressive 4-0 shutout over Florida Atlantic at the Hurricane Cup in Coral Gables, Fla. Defenders Drea Barklage, Meghan Lewis and Mallory Smith, along with forward Blake Miller, netted goals in the victory.
The Mountaineers are 11-2-1 all-time against the Panthers, including a 6-0 mark at home. The two teams played to a 1-1 double overtime draw last season in Indianola, Pa.
Pitt is led by eighth-year coach Sue-Moy Chin and returns eight starters and 18 letterwinners from last season. The Panthers have qualified for the BIG EAST Championships in three of the last five seasons and field a tough, defensive-minded unit this season.
The Panthers are led by all-BIG EAST performers Katelyn Ruhe and Liz Carroll, and sophomore Ashley Cuba. Cuba leads the team in goals with four on a team-best 31 shots. Ruhe and Carroll combine for one goal and seven assists to anchor the midfield position. In net, goalkeeper Morie Kephart has played all 740 minutes, making 25 saves and recording two shutouts.
WVU is 7-6-1 all-time in BIG EAST openers since joining the league in 1996. For the sixth straight year, West Virginia and Pitt will kick off conference play against each other.
The Mountaineers welcome fifth-ranked Virginia on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m. The contest is also “Dollar Day” with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas available for purchase for just one dollar. Sunday’s match is also Alumni Weekend, honoring former Mountaineers who have donned the Old Gold and Blue and will be the celebration of US Youth Soccer Month.
Fans unable to attend the match can follow the Mountaineers at home all season long via Live Stats and a free WebStream at MSNsportsNET.com.
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