WSoc Blog: One for the Seniors
October 29, 2014 06:48 PM | General
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The 2014 WVU senior class (l-r): Front Row - Ali Connelly, Jess Crowder; Back Row - Katie Osterman, Kate Schwindel
Graphic by Kristin Coldsnow
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Though the No. 8 West Virginia University women’s soccer team clinched its third straight Big 12 Conference regular-season crown this past Sunday, fans are very mistaken if they believe the Mountaineers are satisfied.
Sure, WVU (13-2-2, 6-0-1) has secured the No. 1 seed in the 2014 Big 12 Soccer Tournament. And yes, the team keeps its outright title even with a loss to the Baylor Bears on Friday evening. But these Mountaineers will not be happy with anything but their seventh Big 12 win of the season, as there are still many goals to be met, including a national seed in the 2014 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament.
Certainly, the Mountaineers will fight for a win Friday evening so they can give their 2014 senior class a victory on “Senior Night.” Four student-athletes – midfielder Ali Connelly, defender Jess Crowder, goalkeeper Katie Osterman and forward Kate Schwindel – will lace up their cleats for one last regular-season contest at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Oct. 31. Lasting memories will surely be made that night, with more to follow throughout the next month, and the seniors can add those memorable moments to a long list of special stories they’ve compiled throughout their four years at WVU.
Osterman’s memorable moments span her collegiate career. From watching Morgan Betscher score a goal in her own senior game in 2011, to winning Big 12 titles in 2012 and 2013, the Virginia Beach, Virginia, native has enjoyed the success she has shared with her teammates. One moment near the end of the 2013 season stands above the rest for Osterman.
“Watching Sara Keane shut out Rutgers in the penalty-kick shootout in the first round of the NCAA Tournament was something truly amazing that you don’t get to see all the time,” she said of her former teammate’s career night. “She was just awesome in that game.”
The squad’s two title wins last season made an impact on Osterman, too.
“Winning those two Big 12 titles last year really proved how hard we worked throughout the season,” she explained. “We had to overcome a lot of adversity, both on and off the field, and to achieve those goals was just truly tremendous. Not a lot of teams can say they accomplished a feat like that.”
A championship victory stands out for Crowder, too, though the moment came much sooner in her career.
“Our 2011 Big East Tournament Championship win is pretty memorable,” the Cary, North Carolina, native said. “Winning the last Big East title for the school is pretty awesome. Continuing to win in the Big 12 has been great, too, because we proved that everyone should expect more out of this program than they did.”
A 2013 NSCAA Scholar All-East Region Honorable Mention honoree, Crowder is thankful for each of the opportunities she has received throughout her four years.
“I’ve really enjoyed experiencing everything WVU has to offer, with the team and without the team,” she explained. “This has been a neat experience for me, and I’ve learned a lot, probably more than I thought I would. I’m happy I’ve been exposed to so much.”
This senior class knows that the team has a large target on its back, a squad’s fate when it has won seven conference titles in the last five years. Yet, there are times when WVU is not the favorite to win a match. Few expected the Mountaineers to defeat No. 1 Stanford at the Penn State Invitational in 2012. Sitting at 1-2 early in the season, WVU faced a Cardinal squad riding a 64 match, regular-season unbeaten streak. The Mountaineers faced the challenge head-on and walked away with a 1-0 win.
“Winning all the championships have been big, but beating No. 1 Stanford my sophomore year was huge,” recalled Connelly, a native of South Bend, Indiana. “That was one of the coolest moments ever. We came into the match following a loss, and no one thought we would win. The game-winner was an awesome goal, and it was just an amazing experience. Snapping their win streak was definitely cool, too.”
Schwindel, a four-year starter for the Mountaineers, struggled the most to pinpoint just one memorable moment at WVU. With 32 career goals to her name, the seventh-best total in program history, she has had a direct hand in several big moments for the team over the years. Two goals in particular stick out for the Livingston, New Jersey, native.
“My first career goal – that was really big for me,” the 2014 Senior CLASS Award finalist said. “It came late in the year (vs. Marquette in 2011), but once I scored that goal, it got the ball rolling from there.”
Schwindel’s second favorite score? The golden-goal netted at Oklahoma in 2013 that delivered the Mountaineers their second consecutive Big 12 regular-season title.
“Winning a title on the road was just great for this team, especially when we overcame so much last year,” she explained. “We won that championship outright, and that meant a lot.”
Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown has high praise for her senior class. As a unit, the quartet has already won six conference titles and boasts a record of 57-16-9 for a .750 win percentage.
“I always say – look at the accomplishments. That speaks volumes to what a senior class brings,” she said. “Not only are these athletes winners on the playing field, but they’re also just great people. They represent Mountaineer Nation so well with their hard-working mentality.”
Connelly, Crowder, Osterman and Schwindel will be honored before kickoff against the Bears Friday night. First kick is scheduled for 7 p.m., and admission is free, courtesy of United Bank.
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Redshirt-freshman forward Amandine Pierre-Louis is going to play hard for the senior class Friday. The reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, she understands the importance of sending the seniors out in style.
“This is their last game at home, so we have to give everything we can to get the win,” she said. “Even though we won the conference (title), we still want to finish without a loss at home. We have to come out prepared.”
Pierre-Louis had a big hand in the team’s title-clinching victory over Oklahoma on Oct. 26, scoring two second-half goals, including the game-winner in the 75th minute. She says those scores were a result of a lot of hard work over the last month.
“I’ve been working on finishing and making sure I get that little inch I’ve been missing every game – playing with the ball and not rushing anything,” she explained. “It was a lot of hard work. This is a new league for me and still a new team for me. Those two goals mean a lot.”
Following this Friday’s match against the Bears, the Mountaineers will return to work early Saturday in preparation for the Big 12 Soccer Tournament, set for kickoff on Nov. 5 at Swope Soccer Village, in Kansas City. Pierre-Louis is anxious and ready for her first career tournament match.
“I don’t have any expectations, but I’m really excited for this tournament,” she said. “I think it’s going to be great for me as a player, and for the team, to show what we can to do and to win again next week.”
The tournament field will be announced late Friday evening, as every team but Texas Tech wraps-up regular-season play that night. WVU, the defending tournament champion, could face OU, BU or TCU in the first round, pending Friday’s results.
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Friday’s match will have a spooky feel, as the Mountaineers encourage their fans to celebrate Halloween at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. All are invited to wear their Halloween costumes, and youth fans may attend Trunk or Treat in the Coliseum band parking lot starting at 5:30 p.m. Additionally, the Mountaineer Maniacs will award prizes at halftime for the top-three costumes.
Finally – Friday also is “Alumni Night” for WVU women’s soccer. Come out and support this year’s squad and say “hi” to your favorite Mountaineer alum!
Let’s Go Mountaineers!
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