No. 13 Women's Soccer Rolls
September 05, 2014 11:02 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 13 West Virginia University women’s soccer team wasted little time putting away a visiting Hofstra this evening, as the Mountaineers tallied four goals in the match’s first 17 minutes and defeated the Pride, 4-0, in the second game of the WVU 90 Minute Classic at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Four different Mountaineers finished a goal this evening, including the first of the season for junior Kailey Utley and sophomore Ashley Lawrence. Tonight was the first time four Mountaineers had a hand in the scoring since WVU earned a 4-3 victory at No. 9 Baylor on Sept. 29, 2013; that match also was the last time the squad scored four goals against one opponent.
Additionally, WVU’s four-goal effort in the first half marked the first time the Mountaineers (3-2) put at least four scores on the board in one half since a five-goal second half against High Point in a 6-0 home win on Sept. 16, 2012.
“It was a huge focus for this team to come out strong and finally put some of the balls into the back of the net,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “It was really important that we did what we didn’t do last weekend – finish our chances. First goals are always like monkeys off a back, and I think the goals for Utley and Lawrence speak volumes of their hard work.”
Seven Mountaineers earned at least one point tonight.
“To mix it around and have so many people create chances and finish is important for us, because it lets us know we have such great balance in our attack, and at any given time, anyone can score,” explained Izzo-Brown.
Junior midfielder Cari Price and Lawrence each finished with a game-best three shots, and WVU totaled 14 shots to Hofstra’s two. Five Mountaineers tallied one shot on-goal, and WVU earned an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Junior Hannah Steadman made one save in her second consecutive shutout. The Pride’s Friederike Mehring also finished with one save.
“It’s really important for us to get shutouts, to play strong defense and to build confidence,” Izzo-Brown said.
Utley gave the Mountaineers a lead they would never relinquish in the fourth minute, as the forward tallied her first goal of the season. With room to move, the St. Louis, Missouri, native beat two Hofstra defenders and ripped a shot from the 18-yard line that beat Mehring to the right side of the net.
Sophomore defender Kadeisha Buchanan added to the lead just eight minutes later. The Brampton, Ontario, native received a quick flick from classmate Carly Black off a corner and directed her shot past Mehring for her second goal of the season. Senior defender Jess Crowder also earned an assist.
A cross from Kate Schwindel in the 15th minute led to the Mountaineers’ third goal, as she connected with junior forward Kelsie Maloney, who then cut inside, leaving a Pride defender in her wake, before beating Mehring with a low shot far post. The score is the second of the year for Maloney, while the assist is Schwindel’s first.
Lawrence put an exclamation mark on an exciting 17 minutes with a superb individual effort, dribbling the ball up the left sideline before connecting on a shot from nine-yards out for her first points of 2014.
The Pride’s (2-2) lone chance came in the 15th minute, as Leah Galton placed her header on-goal, but Steadman was there, and the shot went right into her open hands.
The Mountaineers retained possession for most of the second half and never gave the Pride a decent look.
Twenty Mountaineers saw playing time this evening, and freshman forward Toryn Broadwater tallied her first career shot on-goal.
With the win, WVU improves to 3-0 against the Pride.
The Mountaineers return to DDSS Sunday evening for a 5 p.m. match against UNC Greensboro. It will be the first-ever meeting between the squads. The Spartans played to a 2-2 double-overtime draw against Indiana State earlier this evening.
Sunday is “Youth Soccer Day,” and all area soccer teams are invited to DDSS to celebrate U.S. youth soccer month. Kids under 13, who bring a completed Musket Coloring Sheet to the stadium gate, will receive one free youth admission and will be entered into a drawing to win a plush Musket toy. The coloring sheet can be found at WVUsports.com. Additionally, fans will be able to take their picture with the 2013 Big 12 Conference regular-season and tournament trophies.
A free WVU shuttle bus will be available from the Mountainlair and the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop for an hour leading up to Sunday’s start time. Return service to the Mountainlair and the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop also will be available for an hour at the conclusion of the match.
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