Late Goals Lift No. 13 Women's Soccer
September 14, 2014 04:18 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Four scores in six minutes helped the No. 13-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team erase a one-goal deficit and earn a 4-1 victory over Duquesne, today, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Today’s win pushes the Mountaineers’ (5-2-1) unbeaten streak to five matches.
“Finishing today and getting the win was critical,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We’re happy we were able to finish a lot of the chances we weren’t able to finish Friday night. Duquesne has had a great year – it was important for us to get the win today.”
Tied 1-1 in the 73rd minute, freshman midfielder/defender Michaela Abam netted the game winner, her first career goal, on a blast from 24-yards out that beat Duquesne’s Devon Tabata far right post.
“Michaela has really done everything I’ve asked of her – she started in the back, and now she’s playing at the top,” Izzo-Brown explained. “She’s a pleasure to coach and be around. I was happy that she got that goal.”
Abam, along with redshirt-freshman Amandine Pierre-Louis and junior defender Maggie Bedillion, finished with a game-best two shots on-goal.
Despite dominating time of possession, WVU found itself down 1-0 in the 68th minute, as the Mountaineers were unable to clear the ball following a corner kick by the Dukes (2-2-2). Midfielder Maddie Layman possessed the ball near the outside edge of the box and ripped a shot from 15-yards out that went toward the far upper right corner and out of the reach of the Mountaineers’ Hannah Steadman.
The Mountaineers wasted little time matching the score, as junior midfielder Amanda Hill, standing near the inside post, got her head on a corner kick from Jess Crowder in the 72nd minute and placed the ball low for the score, the first goal allowed by Tabata in four matches.
The goal was the first of the season for Hill, while the assist was the first of two for Crowder, as she also assisted on Abam’s game-winner.
“We hope as the season continues, we can lean on our upperclassmen,” said Izzo-Brown. “I think seeing the senior leadership coming out of players like Jess Crowder is really important for the team chemistry and will help us get to our final goal.”
Junior midfielder Leah Emaus added the first of two insurance goals in the 77th minute, netting her own header off a corner, this time taken by freshman Carla Portillo, from two-yards out. The score was Emaus’ second in three games, while the assist gave Portillo her first points in a Mountaineer uniform.
Just 75 seconds later, Bedillion tallied her first career goal off a fantastic individual effort, carrying the ball up the left side of the field before beating Tabata with a blast to the top right corner.
The Dukes’ nearly made it a two-goal game off a direct shot from Emma Coccia in the 89th minute, but redshirt-freshman Michelle Newhouse, earning her first career minutes in goal, punched the ball out of the frame and over the net.
The Mountaineers finished with 10 or more shots on-goal for the third straight game, earning a 12-4 advantage. WVU tallied 30 shots to Duquesne’s six and also earned an 8-4 advantage on corner kicks.
Steadman was credited with the win and finished with two saves, while Tabata registered eight.
The Mountaineers’ best chance to get on the board in the first half came in the 39th minute. Bedillion sent a strong cross to a charging Kailey Utley, who directed the ball with her head to the upper left corner, but Tabata was there for her third save of the game.
The Dukes’ lone look of the first half came off a free kick from Kahli Hale. The wind pushed the kick from midfield toward the upper left corner, and Steadman had to jump for her first save of the match.
The Mountaineers conclude their eight-match homestand next weekend. WVU plays host to La Salle on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m., and Villanova on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m.
Friday is WVU Faculty/Staff Night, and all faculty and staff will receive a coupon via email for free admission.
Sunday is a “Dollar Day,” with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas available for $1 each.
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