Women's Soccer Blog: Utley Nabs Elusive Goal
September 12, 2014 12:01 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – She had been knocking on the goal door all season long.
Junior forward Kailey Utley was due a score. Through the first four games of the 2014 season, she had registered a team-best 14 shots. The Mountaineer offense flowed through Utley, as she had owned two assists and was credited with jump-starting many of the team’s scoring chances early in the year. Yet, the St. Louis, Missouri, native, could not find the back of the net.
That changed last Friday evening at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Utley gave the No. 13-ranked Mountaineers (4-2) a lead they would never relinquish in the fourth minute, as she beat two Hofstra defenders before blasting a shot from the 18-yard line that beat the goalkeeper to the right side of the net. The score jump-started a goal onslaught by WVU that saw the Mountaineers tally three more goals in the match’s first 17 minutes and cruise to a 4-0 victory.
The goal was Utley’s second of her career and first since 2012.
“That was exciting,” Utley enthused. “One of our goals is to finish balls. We had four shots in the first half, and we had four goals, so that was good for this team.”
Having earned one of the Mountaineers’ starting forward positions this year, Utley understands the team’s scoring frustrations, as WVU has to fight to finish its chances. She believes the squad’s six goals last weekend should help, especially against No. 16 Georgetown, a foe the team is looking forward to facing.
“We love going up against ranked opponents,” Utley explained. “Our goal every year is not only to beat a ranked opponent, but to be ranked ourselves. We’re excited for this match against Georgetown.”
With that first goal finally under her belt, Utley looks to contribute again tonight to the Mountaineers’ score output.
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Georgetown is the Mountaineers’ third-ranked opponent in four weeks. Both teams will be hungry for their first win of the season over a ranked squad.
GU suffered its first defeat of the year on Sept. 5 at then-No. 5-ranked Virginia Tech, a 6-1 decision that saw the Hokies tally four second-half goals. VT finished with 18 shots, eight on-goal, and three corner kicks.
The Mountaineers suffered a 3-1 loss at then-No. 11 Penn State in their season opener on Aug. 22, and a 2-0 defeat to then-No. 21 Duke in its DDSS opener on Aug. 29.
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The Mountaineers had a battle on their hands against a feisty UNC Greensboro squad on Sept. 7. The Spartans registered 15 fouls, including 10 in the second half after they went down 2-0.
WVU played above the fouls and maintained its focus, pressing on all fronts while also maintaining a steady backline that halted any thought of an offensive flow by the Spartans.
The Mountaineers held UNCG without a shot, the fourth time in program history a WVU opponent failed to get a shot off, and the first time since WVU’s 2-0 win over USF on Oct. 26, 2007. That stat says more about the Mountaineers’ defense than the Spartans’ offense, as UNCG tallied 23 shots, including 11 on-goal, in their 2-2 double-overtime draw against Indiana State on Sept. 5. For a comparison against ranked opponents, UNCG tallied six shots against newly ranked, No. 25 Georgia, on Aug. 24, including five on-goal.
Through six matches, WVU opponents have tallied 36 shots, placing 17 on-goal, and earned seven goals. The opponent shot total matches a program low (since 2000) through six matches, as the 2006 WVU squad also only allowed 36 shots through the first six matches. That Mountaineer squad finished the year at 14-4-3, posted 13 shutouts and allowed only two opponents, No. 1-ranked Notre Dame and No. 20 Rutgers, to score more than two goals.
The takeaway? The Mountaineers’ backline – anchored by sophomore center backs Kadeisha Buchanan and Carly Black – is playing scary good so far. With senior Jess Crowder’s leadership and junior Maggie Bedillion’s fast feet flanking the inside duo, fans can expect this unit to continue to limit opponents’ chances and make life a bit easier for junior goalkeeper Hannah Steadman.
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WVU is looking for a repeat of that Mountaineer Magic tonight at DDSS. A record 2,045 fans were on hand for the team’s home season-opener on Aug. 29, the third-largest crowd at DDSS in WVU women’s soccer history.
“Tonight is a huge game for us,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We just need that crowd behind us. We will face a lot of obstacles, but the one thing we always want to control is our environment. When Duke came to town, that energy and extra push were huge. If we could get everyone out to DDSS, it would be great for this team.”
The first 200 Mountaineer Maniacs in attendance tonight will receive a women’s soccer fan shirt. All in attendance on Sunday will be able to meet the team for autographs following the competition.
Tickets for both matches are $5 for adults and just $3 for youth and seniors. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $2 each. All WVU students are admitted for free with a valid WVU student I.D.
Come early, and cheer loud!
It's GAME DAY!!! Come out tonight at 7 as we take on #18 Georgetown #wvuwomenssoccer http://t.co/JBdAZj3hC3
— Kate Schwindel (@KSchwin) September 12, 2014
it's GAME DAY!!! taking on #18 Georgetown tonight at home, see you at 7! #wvuwomenssoccer #RI5K… http://t.co/zHOj7n6dL5
— Amanda Hill (@amanda_hill_) September 12, 2014
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