Women's Soccer: Final Homestand Awaits
October 06, 2011 11:39 AM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 22 West Virginia women’s soccer team closes out its home schedule with a pair of BIG EAST Conference matches this weekend at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The Mountaineers will face St. John’s on Friday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m., in a match presented by EZToUse.com. The first 200 fans in attendance get a free WVU wristband, courtesy of EZToUse.com. Mountaineer Maniacs who arrive early will receive sweatpants and vuvuzelas. Maniac members also will get a VIP tour of the new training facility at Dreamswork Field on Friday after the match with the WVU coaching staff.
West Virginia plays its final home contest of the regular season against Syracuse on Sunday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m., on Senior Day. Fans are encouraged to bring their cameras to take their photo with WVU’s 2010 BIG EAST Championship trophy while in attendance.
“Each senior class that comes through wants to leave its own mark on the program,” says coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “This year’s seniors are a special group and have won a lot of big games over the last four years. But I think they are looking forward to making this year special. This weekend is a big factor in how far this 2011 team can go in the postseason.”
Six Mountaineers make up the 2011 senior class – Drea Barklage, Morgan Betscher, Chelsey Corroto, Erica Henderson, Meghan Lewis and Blake Miller – a group comprised of three defenders, two midfielders and one forward. Entering the weekend, they have combined for 421 matches played while amassing a four-year record of 51-19-13 under Izzo-Brown.
The Mountaineers split a pair of BIG EAST road matches last weekend and have won seven of their last eight matches.
“Anytime you lose, the next game becomes that much more important,” says Izzo-Brown. “But with the leadership that we have on this team, I know they are excited and understand the importance of Friday’s game.”
WVU is 10-2-3 all-time against St. John’s, including a 7-1-1 mark at home. In the last meeting, the Mountaineers scored a 1-0 overtime win in Queens behind Megan Mischler’s game-winner. Junior midfielder Bri Rodriguez has recorded game-winning assists in each of the last two meetings.
St. John’s is led by 18th-year coach Ian Stone, who returns 10 starters from his 2010 squad. The Red Storm are tied for third place in the BIG EAST’s American Division.
Offensively, St. John’s is led by senior forward Jen Leaverton’s 16 points on seven goals and two assists. St. John’s has been shutout only once in its last 10 matches. In goal, the Red Storm have rotated goalkeepers Kristin Russell (1.03 GAA) and Lauren Ferris (1.19 GAA).
The Mountaineers are 7-3-2 all-time against the Orange, including a 5-2-0 mark at home. In the last meeting, the Mountaineers scored a 1-0 overtime win behind Megan Mischler’s game-winner in Syracuse. Junior midfielder Caroline Szwed has recorded assists in each of the last two meetings.
Syracuse is led by fourth-year coach Phil Wheddon, who returns six of his top seven goal scorers from last season. The Orange are tied with St. John’s for third place in the BIG EAST’s American Division standings.
Junior midfielder Tina Romagnuolo is a two-time all-BIG EAST performer and leads SU in goals with three. Sophomore Brittany Anghel, a 2010 BIG EAST all-Rookie Team selection, has allowed only 11 goals in 12 contests, while making 43 saves on the season.
The Mountaineers will face St. John’s on Friday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m., in a match presented by EZToUse.com. The first 200 fans in attendance get a free WVU wristband, courtesy of EZToUse.com. Mountaineer Maniacs who arrive early will receive sweatpants and vuvuzelas. Maniac members also will get a VIP tour of the new training facility at Dreamswork Field on Friday after the match with the WVU coaching staff.
West Virginia plays its final home contest of the regular season against Syracuse on Sunday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m., on Senior Day. Fans are encouraged to bring their cameras to take their photo with WVU’s 2010 BIG EAST Championship trophy while in attendance.
“Each senior class that comes through wants to leave its own mark on the program,” says coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “This year’s seniors are a special group and have won a lot of big games over the last four years. But I think they are looking forward to making this year special. This weekend is a big factor in how far this 2011 team can go in the postseason.”
Six Mountaineers make up the 2011 senior class – Drea Barklage, Morgan Betscher, Chelsey Corroto, Erica Henderson, Meghan Lewis and Blake Miller – a group comprised of three defenders, two midfielders and one forward. Entering the weekend, they have combined for 421 matches played while amassing a four-year record of 51-19-13 under Izzo-Brown.
The Mountaineers split a pair of BIG EAST road matches last weekend and have won seven of their last eight matches.
“Anytime you lose, the next game becomes that much more important,” says Izzo-Brown. “But with the leadership that we have on this team, I know they are excited and understand the importance of Friday’s game.”
WVU is 10-2-3 all-time against St. John’s, including a 7-1-1 mark at home. In the last meeting, the Mountaineers scored a 1-0 overtime win in Queens behind Megan Mischler’s game-winner. Junior midfielder Bri Rodriguez has recorded game-winning assists in each of the last two meetings.
St. John’s is led by 18th-year coach Ian Stone, who returns 10 starters from his 2010 squad. The Red Storm are tied for third place in the BIG EAST’s American Division.
Offensively, St. John’s is led by senior forward Jen Leaverton’s 16 points on seven goals and two assists. St. John’s has been shutout only once in its last 10 matches. In goal, the Red Storm have rotated goalkeepers Kristin Russell (1.03 GAA) and Lauren Ferris (1.19 GAA).
The Mountaineers are 7-3-2 all-time against the Orange, including a 5-2-0 mark at home. In the last meeting, the Mountaineers scored a 1-0 overtime win behind Megan Mischler’s game-winner in Syracuse. Junior midfielder Caroline Szwed has recorded assists in each of the last two meetings.
Syracuse is led by fourth-year coach Phil Wheddon, who returns six of his top seven goal scorers from last season. The Orange are tied with St. John’s for third place in the BIG EAST’s American Division standings.
Junior midfielder Tina Romagnuolo is a two-time all-BIG EAST performer and leads SU in goals with three. Sophomore Brittany Anghel, a 2010 BIG EAST all-Rookie Team selection, has allowed only 11 goals in 12 contests, while making 43 saves on the season.
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