Mountaineers Blank Pitt
September 28, 2010 09:58 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A fast start and three-point effort from Bri Rodriguez propelled the West Virginia women’s soccer team to a 3-0 victory over Pitt Tuesday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The win, in front of 426 fans, gave the Mountaineers their first BIG EAST win of the season.
“I was proud of how strong we came out tonight, getting after it from the start,” said Izzo-Brown. “The ladies wanted to get back on the field after Sunday’s draw. We played hard tonight against a good, athletic Pitt team.”
Defender Bry McCarthy put West Virginia on the board in the 17th minute on a shot from 14 yards out. Midfielder Bri Rodriguez served a ball across the box, finding a wide open McCarthy on the back side. McCarthy quickly fired a ball across the goal and into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
WVU was aggressive in its attack from the opening whistle, generating three corner kicks and four shots in the first 10 minutes of the match. The Mountaineers led at the half for the fourth time this season, taking a 1-0 lead after 45 minutes against the Panthers.
“I think we were more prepared tonight than our previous game that was postponed,” said Rodriguez. “We were able to hold possession and be dangerous early on and that kind of set the tone.”
At the 55:26 mark, Rodriguez scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season on a beautiful shot from the top of the box. After a WVU free kick was knocked around, Rodriguez pulled the ball out of the air, turned and sent a ball over goalkeeper Morie Kephart and inside the left corner to make it 2-0.
“Bri is so talented and somebody we know we can count on,” said Izzo-Brown. “She is an effective player from 18 (yard line) to 18 (yard line). She finished a great ball to put us up 2-0 and she created opportunities for other players as well.”
The Mountaineers added an insurance goal in the 84th minute on Blake Miller’s third goal of the year. The forward intercepted a Pitt goal kick, taking the breakaway into the box and slotting the ball on the ground past Kephart to make it 3-0.
West Virginia finished with 22 shots, led by Miller’s four attempts. Pitt totaled 11 shots on the night, including a game-high five from forward Katelyn Lippert.
For the second-straight match, and fifth time this season, the Mountaineer defense recorded a shutout. WVU goalkeeper Kerri Butler worked all 90 minutes between the posts, making six saves.
“We did a good job of limiting (Ashley) Cuba and making her work to get shots off,” said Izzo-Brown of her defense. “Getting another shutout is huge and we need to continue doing that to be successful.”
Pitt’s best scoring chance came in the 70th minute on a shot from Lippert. Lippert blasted a line drive off a rebound at the top of the box, forcing Butler to her knees to come up with a save.
Twelve different players recorded a shot for West Virginia, including near goals off headers from forward Megan Mischler and midfielder Caroline Szwed.
McCarthy was fouled on the left side in the 15th minute, setting up a free kick that found Szwed in the middle of the box where her header was sent high of the goal.
At the 74:39 mark, Mischler found space deep in the box and headed a ball just over the top of the goal for the scoring chance.
The Mountaineers had another solid opportunity in the 82nd minute off the foot of forward Nicolette DeLaurentis. DeLaurentis used her speed to move past a Pitt defender, blasting a ball at Kephart who deflect the shot wide of the goal.
Kephart ended the night with six saves for the Panthers.
West Virginia earned a season-high nine corner kicks while holding Pitt to zero attempts – an opponent season-low.
WVU improves to 5-4-1 (1-1-1 BIG EAST) while Pitt drops to 3-7-1 (0-3-0 BIG EAST).
The Mountaineers return to action on Friday, Oct. 1, at Cincinnati. The conference tilt begins a four-match road swing for WVU
“We were able to play a lot of players tonight, so hopefully that will help our legs this weekend,” added Rodriguez. “This is a crucial stretch and we need to come away with points in these next few road games.”
“I was proud of how strong we came out tonight, getting after it from the start,” said Izzo-Brown. “The ladies wanted to get back on the field after Sunday’s draw. We played hard tonight against a good, athletic Pitt team.”
Defender Bry McCarthy put West Virginia on the board in the 17th minute on a shot from 14 yards out. Midfielder Bri Rodriguez served a ball across the box, finding a wide open McCarthy on the back side. McCarthy quickly fired a ball across the goal and into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
WVU was aggressive in its attack from the opening whistle, generating three corner kicks and four shots in the first 10 minutes of the match. The Mountaineers led at the half for the fourth time this season, taking a 1-0 lead after 45 minutes against the Panthers.
“I think we were more prepared tonight than our previous game that was postponed,” said Rodriguez. “We were able to hold possession and be dangerous early on and that kind of set the tone.”
At the 55:26 mark, Rodriguez scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season on a beautiful shot from the top of the box. After a WVU free kick was knocked around, Rodriguez pulled the ball out of the air, turned and sent a ball over goalkeeper Morie Kephart and inside the left corner to make it 2-0.
“Bri is so talented and somebody we know we can count on,” said Izzo-Brown. “She is an effective player from 18 (yard line) to 18 (yard line). She finished a great ball to put us up 2-0 and she created opportunities for other players as well.”
The Mountaineers added an insurance goal in the 84th minute on Blake Miller’s third goal of the year. The forward intercepted a Pitt goal kick, taking the breakaway into the box and slotting the ball on the ground past Kephart to make it 3-0.
West Virginia finished with 22 shots, led by Miller’s four attempts. Pitt totaled 11 shots on the night, including a game-high five from forward Katelyn Lippert.
For the second-straight match, and fifth time this season, the Mountaineer defense recorded a shutout. WVU goalkeeper Kerri Butler worked all 90 minutes between the posts, making six saves.
“We did a good job of limiting (Ashley) Cuba and making her work to get shots off,” said Izzo-Brown of her defense. “Getting another shutout is huge and we need to continue doing that to be successful.”
Pitt’s best scoring chance came in the 70th minute on a shot from Lippert. Lippert blasted a line drive off a rebound at the top of the box, forcing Butler to her knees to come up with a save.
Twelve different players recorded a shot for West Virginia, including near goals off headers from forward Megan Mischler and midfielder Caroline Szwed.
McCarthy was fouled on the left side in the 15th minute, setting up a free kick that found Szwed in the middle of the box where her header was sent high of the goal.
At the 74:39 mark, Mischler found space deep in the box and headed a ball just over the top of the goal for the scoring chance.
The Mountaineers had another solid opportunity in the 82nd minute off the foot of forward Nicolette DeLaurentis. DeLaurentis used her speed to move past a Pitt defender, blasting a ball at Kephart who deflect the shot wide of the goal.
Kephart ended the night with six saves for the Panthers.
West Virginia earned a season-high nine corner kicks while holding Pitt to zero attempts – an opponent season-low.
WVU improves to 5-4-1 (1-1-1 BIG EAST) while Pitt drops to 3-7-1 (0-3-0 BIG EAST).
The Mountaineers return to action on Friday, Oct. 1, at Cincinnati. The conference tilt begins a four-match road swing for WVU
“We were able to play a lot of players tonight, so hopefully that will help our legs this weekend,” added Rodriguez. “This is a crucial stretch and we need to come away with points in these next few road games.”
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