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No. 4 Mountaineers Set Records in Win
November 20, 2015 10:10 PM | Women's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 4-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team left little doubt tonight as to whether its historical season would continue, as the Mountaineers made quick work of Northwestern and defeated the Wildcats, 4-0, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Second Round.
With the victory, WVU’s program-record 18th of the season, the Mountaineers (18-2-1, 6-0-1) move on to the NCAA Tournament Third Round for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2010. The Mountaineers are now 14-14-2 all-time in NCAA Tournament play.
WVU will face Loyola Marymount in the third round on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Lions defeated Minnesota, 1-0, in today’s first second-round matchup. Tickets for Sunday’s matchup go on sale tomorrow at 9 a.m. at WVUGAME.com. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students and youth, and $2 for groups of 10 or more. Group tickets will only be available in advance and not at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium gate on game day. WVU students are admitted for free with a valid WVU Student I.D.
The Mountaineers made history in front of 846 fans tonight, as their second straight four-goal shutout performance pushed their season shutout total to 15 and goal total to 56, both single-season program records. Additionally, the team’s 18 victories match the single-season benchmark previously achieved by the 2002, 2007 and 2010 squads.
WVU rolled past an NU (14-6-2, 7-3-1 Big Ten) defense tonight that entered the match having allowed just 11 opponent goals all season. The Mountaineers’ four-goal performance matched their NCAA Tournament single-game record, also hit last week in the team’s 4-0 win against Duquesne. WVU has now scored four or more goals in a game eight times this season, matching the program single-season record first set by the 2006 squad.
“They went after a team that only gave up 11 goals this whole season. Everyone had great movement on and off the ball,” said WVU coach Nikki Izzo-Brown, now two wins short of her 300th career victory. “I was so proud of the effort, the will and the ability to move the ball around to find the back of the net. It was incredible.”
A tight match between first-time opponents was tipped WVU’s way for good in the 15th minute, as Amanda Hill cashed in on the team’s second of three corner kicks, heading the ball just inside the goal mouth behind NU’s Lauren Clem. After the ball was put into play, it bounced around in front of the net. Junior defender Kadeisha Buchanan got a head on it and directed it toward Hill. The goal was a career-best fifth of the season for the senior midfielder, celebrating her birthday today, and her third game-winner of the season.
“So far I am liking 22,” Hill said. “The assist and the buildup of the goal are more impressive to me. I just put the ball in. Everyone worked so hard for that, and it’s one of those scrappy goals that you really like because it shows the no give-up mentality. We busted to get that one in.”
Sophomore forward Michaela Abam gave the Mountaineers a two-goal advantage on a great individual effort in the 23rd minute, ripping a shot from 25-yards out that sailed toward the far right post for her team-best 11th goal of the season.
A third goal came quickly for WVU. A foul by NU in the 27th minute gave the Mountaineers a free kick to the left of the 18-yard box. The kick was played deep in front of the net to Buchanan. With the ball, she spun into traffic and directed a pass to senior midfielder Leah Emaus, who placed her low shot toward the far left post for her second goal of the season. The two-assist effort is a career first for Buchanan.
Emaus’ classmate, forward Kelsie Maloney, netted her second goal of the season just eight minutes later. Sophomore forward Heather Kaleiohi sent a ball from the right post to a sitting Maloney just below the penalty line, who instantly directed her shot toward the left post for the team’s record-setting 56th score of the season.
WVU’s scoring onslaught nearly began in the 12th minute. Driving toward the net, freshman forward Nia Gordon was taken down inside the box by Wildcat Hannah Davison. The Mountaineers were awarded a penalty kick, their first of the season, but Buchanan just missed, delaying WVU’s first goal.
The Wildcats’ best chance came in the 43rd minute, as Kim Jerantowski drove down the right side of the box. With WVU freshman Easther Mayi Kith defending, Jerantowski got a low shot off, but Mountaineer senior Hannah Steadman was able to meet it at the post for her lone save of the match.
The second half was far less dramatic than the first. The Mountaineers pushed for the fifth goal in the first 10 minutes, but Clem came up with big saves on shots from junior midfielder Ashley Lawrence and senior forward Kailey Utley. Additionally, defensive plays from Buchanan and senior Maggie Bedillion in the 62nd and 64th minutes, respectively, helped preserve the team’s clean sheet.
“Credit to West Virginia. I thought they were a fantastic team,” said Wildcat coach Michael Moynihan. “We came in here with hopes, and I thought we put together a fantastic season. We have shown steady improvement, and we have played some pretty good teams ourselves. (WVU’s) amount of athleticism and the quality in terms of technical ability was extremely impressive. It was the best we have seen this year. Credit to them, and I wish them luck as they move forward.”
WVU finished with a 22-3 edge in shots and forced Clem into six saves. The Mountaineers also earned a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Utley paced the field with five shots. Three Mountaineers placed two shots on-goal.
With the victory, the team’s fourth over a Big Ten opponent this year, WVU improves to 6-0 against first-time foes this season.
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