Buchanan-Main-61715.jpg
No. 3/4 Mountaineers Settle for Draw
October 09, 2015 11:45 PM | Women's Soccer
NORMAN, Okla. – Despite an enormous statistical advantage, the No. 3/4 West Virginia University women’s soccer team had to settle for a 0-0 double-overtime draw at Oklahoma, tonight, at John Crain Field.
The final score does not do the game justice, as the Mountaineers (11-1-1, 2-0-1) were the far dominant team, out-possessing the Sooners (8-4-2, 1-0-2) for the majority of the match. WVU finished with a 33-7 edge in shots and a 15-0 advantage in corner kicks. OU is the fifth team this season to fail to earn to earn a corner kick against WVU.
While tonight’s draw halts the Mountaineers’ win streak at 10, the squad pushed its unbeaten streak to 11.
“Soccer is a cruel game,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We outshot OU 33-7 and had 15 corner kicks, and we just couldn’t capitalize on our opportunities. It’s frustrating.”
Senior Hannah Steadman made three saves tonight for the team’s 11th shutout of the season. WVU has not allowed a goal in a road conference match since losing 2-0 at Texas Tech on Oct. 27, 2013, for a string of five straight contests.
OU junior Kassidie Stade made a career-best 16 saves.
“You have to give OU credit for playing the system they play defensively and really compacting around the box,” Izzo-Brown continued. “It was tough for us to finish. We had good looks tonight, we just didn’t finish. For us to get a win, we have to finish one of those chances and break down that tough five-back system they play.”
Mountaineer sophomore Michaela Abam paced the field with eight shots, with only one landing on frame. Junior midfielder Ashley Lawrence and sophomore forward Amandine Pierre-Louis each placed three of their shots on goal.
WVU’s best chance in overtime came in the 107th minute. Pierre-Louis received the ball just outside the box and took a sailing on-point shot. Stade initially caught the ball but checked it in her hands, almost allowing it to bounce over her head and into the net. Instead, she settled the ball in her hands for her 16th save of the game.
Steadman’s third save was a big one, as the Sooners’ Kaylee Dao, the reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Week, received the ball at the top of the box as the final seconds ticked off the clock in the first overtime period. Covered by two WVU defenders, she managed to get a low shot off, but Steadman made the save at the line to force the second overtime period.
WVU easily worked the ball toward the baseline tonight, allowing the Mountaineers to earn 15 corner kicks, two short of their season high. Junior defender Kadeisha Buchanan nearly converted one chance in the 62nd minute, as she met the ball at its highest point, but Stade was there to snag her header out of the air for the save.
The Mountaineers controlled possession the majority of the first half, earning a 14-1 edge in shots and forcing Stade to make eight saves in the first 45 minutes.
Abam’s lone shot on-goal nearly gave WVU the advantage in the 22nd minute, but her turning shot from the top of the box was pushed away by Stade’s fingertips at the left post.
Confusion near the left post in the 37th minute almost gave WVU the first-half chance it needed. Following a Sooner foul, freshman defender Bianca St. Georges took a long free kick that sailed through traffic toward the net. Classmate Hannah Abraham rushed the post, distracting two OU defenders, but Stade was able to get her glove on the ball at the post and push it away from the net.
WVU is now three shutouts short of matching its program record of 14, first set in 2014.
Tonight’s draw is the first in the all-time series against the two teams. The Mountaineers continue to own a 4-0-1 series advantage.
WVU is now 10-1-2 in all-time Big 12 road matches.
The Mountaineers continue their weekend road trip at No. 16/13 Texas Tech on Sunday, Oct. 11, with first kick from John Walker Soccer Complex set for 2 p.m. ET. Links for a video stream and live stats are available at WVUsports.com.
Nikki Izzo-Brown & Alicia Riggins | Wagner Postgame | Nov. 14
Saturday, November 15
Nikki Izzo-Brown | Nov. 10
Monday, November 10
WSOC | Cincinnati Cinematic Recap
Friday, October 31
Ajanae Respass | Cincinnati Postgame | Oct. 30
Thursday, October 30
