MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore forward Michaela Abam was in the right place at the right time tonight, as her game-winner in the 82nd minute helped push the No. 3/4 West Virginia University women’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory against TCU at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

 

The goal, the Houston native’s team-best eighth of the season, extended the Mountaineers’ (11-1, 2-0) win streak to 10, four short of matching the program record. WVU now shows a 28-match unbeaten streak in conference games at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Additionally, the Mountaineers halted the Horned Frogs’ four-match shutout streak.

 

Befuddled by goal posts and a stingy Horned Frog (8-5, 2-1) defense, Abam made the most of her fifth shot tonight, pouncing on a rebound in front of the net in the 82nd minute and placing the ball high above the outstretched hands of TCU goalkeeper Shannon Coffer. The game winner is her second of the season. Abam’s goal total now matches her team-best output from 2014.

 

Senior defender Maggie Bedillion was instrumental in the set-up of the goal, as she took the initial shot around a TCU defender near the top of the box. While Coffer was able to stop the shot, she failed to control the ball, giving a charging Abam the chance she needed.

 

“Michaela hit every part of post on her shots tonight, so it was great that she was finally able to finish that goal,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We had so many opportunities that we weren’t able to finish tonight. The game of soccer is cruel. The one good look TCU had tonight, they finished, and I give them credit for that. It’s just frustrating when you continue to create chances but can’t put the ball in the back of the net.”

 

As has been the case this season, the Mountaineers outpaced the Horned Frogs this evening, finishing with a 22-3 edge in shots and a 7-0 edge in corner kicks. WVU has now denied four opponents a corner-kick opportunity this year.

 

Senior Hannah Steadman made two saves in the win, while Coffer finished with seven, including a jumping push out on a shot from Carla Portillo in the 84th minute that nearly gave WVU a two-goal advantage.

 

TCU’s score was the first goal allowed by WVU since Aug. 23 and snapped the team’s program record nine-match shutout streak.

 

“Thanks Mountaineer Nation for coming out tonight and weathering the storm,” Izzo-Brown said of the crowd of 1,007 who sat through a constant cold rain. “We heard you loud and proud, and I appreciate you all getting behind us.”

 

Junior midfielder Ashley Lawrence tallied the Mountaineers’ first score 62 seconds into the match, giving the Toronto native the second-fastest goal in program history. Senior midfielder Leah Emaus sent the ball into the box, and after bouncing around the feet of three TCU defenders, it finally trickled toward Lawrence at the right post. She bent her low shot around a waiting Coffer and easily found the far left post for her fourth goal of the season.

 

TCU sophomore forward Emma Heckendorn halted WVU’s shutout streak in the 27th minute, as she received a through ball from Michelle Prokof near the top of the box and beat Steadman one-on-one.

 

Tied at halftime for only the fifth time this season, WVU took control of the game in the second half, taking11 shots to TCU’s one and earning five corner kicks.

 

Abam nearly tallied the game winner in the 61st minute, but Coffer was able to get the blocking save on her running flick in front of the net.

 

The Horned Frogs had their own chance two minutes later. McKenzie Oliver took a shot outside the penalty-kick line off a through ball, but Steadman was able to make the easy catching save, her second of the evening.

 

Abam finished with a game-best five shots, two on-goal. Lawrence and junior defender Kadeisha Buchanan finished with three shots each.

 

Of note, tonight was the Mountaineers’ annual “Pink Match,” and the team donated $8,647 this year to Morgantown’s Betty Puskar Breast Care Center.

 

After five straight matches in Morgantown, the Mountaineers return to the road next week for a pair of Big 12 contests. WVU will kick at Oklahoma on Friday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. ET, before traveling to Lubbock, Texas, for a showdown at No. 16 Texas Tech on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. ET.