No. 8 WSoc Advances to Championship
November 07, 2014 10:35 PM | General
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Though the No. 8-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team had to settle for a 0-0 draw against fifth-seeded Texas, the Mountaineers are celebrating in Kansas City tonight, as the top-seeded team earned a 6-5 edge in a penalty kick shootout tonight at Swope Soccer Village and punched its ticket to its second straight Big 12 Soccer Championship title match.
Knotted at 0-0 after 110 minutes of play, the Mountaineers (15-2-3, 7-0-1), the defending tournament champions, relied on the deft hands of goalkeeper Michelle Newhouse, as the redshirt-freshman came off the bench to defend WVU’s net for the shootout and turned away UT shots in the fourth and seventh rounds to give the Mountaineers a chance for their fifth Big 12 title in three seasons this Sunday.
“I knew I had to come up big for the team,” said Newhouse. “We watched some clips earlier in the day, so I felt a little better. The last shot was pure gut; I knew it had to be done. I wasn’t nervous at first, but the nerves did get to me a bit. It feels awesome to move on to the championship.”
WVU extended its unbeaten streak to 17 matches, getting PK makes in all but the fourth round. The Mountaineers advance to their fourth conference title match in five seasons, and fifth since 2007. WVU is the 11th top seed to advance to the Big 12 Soccer Championship match, a feat the team also achieved in 2013.
“I’m just so happy for this team to experience a championship game,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “Only two teams get to experience that, and I’m excited we get to be a part of that.”
Tonight was the Mountaineers’ first-ever overtime match at the Big 12 Soccer Championship.
Playing in its second straight shootout match, UT (10-7-4, 4-4) got on the board first with a make by Brooke Gilbert. Senior forward Kate Schwindel matched. The squads then traded makes, with sophomore defender Kadeisha Buchanan and freshman forward Michaela Abam both connecting. Newhouse came up with a save in the fourth round, meeting Whitney Jaynes’ shot at the post, but WVU failed to capitalize on the chance, as the Longhorns’ Abby Smith turned away junior forward Kelsie Maloney’s shot.
Tied at 4-4 in the fifth round, the teams again exchanged makes, with senior midfielder Ali Connelly coming off the bench to convert for the Mountaineers, and classmate Jess Crowder following with her own make. Newhouse came up big again in the seventh round, diving to the left post to push Morgan Murphy’s chance away. Knowing she needed a make to advance the Mountaineers, redshirt-freshman Amandine Pierre-Louis calmly stepped to the line and converted, pushing WVU to the championship match.
“I was very nervous, but I just did my job,” Pierre-Louis said. “I got up to that line and reminded myself that I know what to do, and I did it. It feels great to help the team reach the championship – I just want to make sure we win the title.”
“Amandine, Ali and Michelle were huge in the shootout,” Izzo-Brown explained. “I was really proud of the way they handled the pressure.”
Tonight was the second time in as many seasons the Mountaineers advanced in a tournament via a shootout win, as WVU moved past Rutgers in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament on Nov. 16 with a 3-0 edge following a 0-0 draw. This match marks the first time since the 2007 Big East Championship final WVU won a penalty kick shootout in a conference tournament; the Mountaineers secured their first conference championship title with a 5-3 PK edge over No. 9 Notre Dame on Nov. 11, 2007.
The Longhorns were only the third team this season to deny the Mountaineers a goal. Tonight was the first draw in the teams’ series, and WVU continues to own a 3-1-1 advantage.
Despite placing eight shots on-frame, the Mountaineers could not get a shot past Smith, an All-Big 12 First Team honoree. WVU finished with a 24-10 shot advantage and a 9-1 edge in corner kicks. Schwindel and junior midfielder Amanda Hill paced with a game-best two shots on-goal.
Junior Hannah Steadman earned the shutout for the Mountaineers, as she made two saves in 110 minutes of play. The clean sheet is the team’s 10th of the season, matching its total from 2013 and four short of the program record. Steadman shows nine shutouts this year and has allowed only two goals in the last four matches.
Steadman was challenged early, as Jasmine Hart snuck behind the Mountaineer back line 75 seconds into the match and charged toward the net. Steadman hit the deck and stuffed the shot at the post for her first save of the evening.
The Mountaineers had their chances in the first half but couldn’t put one behind Smith. Hill had two shots on-frame in the first 10 minutes, with the second of the two forcing Smith off her feet to punch the ball up and over the crossbar.
WVU finished the first half with a 5-1 edge in corner kicks and forced Smith to make three saves.
Schwindel had the Mountaineers’ best chance in the 61st minute, as she received a great ball from sophomore midfielder Ashley Lawrence right inside the penalty-kick line. Smith went down on her knees and hopefully threw her hands in the air, just making enough contact with the ball to push it over the crossbar and out of play.
UT nearly broke the scoreless play in the 78th minute off a free kick from Chantale Campbell. Her ball found Lindsey Meyer’s head within the goal box, but the Mountaineers dodged the threat when her shot clanged off the cross bar.
Steadman’s second save proved crucial, as she made a great reactionary stop on a blast from Julia Dyche in the 94th minute to extend play.
Schwindel nearly gave the Mountaineers the win in the 99th minute, but her point-blank shot from just inside the box was easily saved by Smith.
The Mountaineers look to defend their championship title against the winner of No. 6-seed Oklahoma – No. 7-seed Baylor on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 4:30 p.m. ET. FOX Sports 1 will carry the match.
“Rest, recover and rejuvenate – we need to get ready for whoever is in front of us, whether it’s Oklahoma or Baylor,” Izzo-Brown concluded.
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