KANSAS CITY, Mo.– A brilliant defensive play gave the No. 2-ranked and top-seeded West Virginia University women’s soccer team the offensive spark it needed, as the Mountaineers tallied two goals in the final 10 minutes and defeated eighth-seeded Oklahoma State, 2-1, this afternoon in the first of four quarterfinal matches in the Big 12 Soccer Championship at Swope Soccer Village.
Scoreless in the 70th minute, OSU was awarded a penalty kick after Madison Mercado went down inside the box. Cowgirl Anna Beffer lined up for the penalty kick, the first the Mountaineers have faced since the game-winner in the team’s 2-1 loss to No. 11/13 Virginia Tech on Aug. 23, and her chance was brilliantly stopped by Mountaineer senior Hannah Steadman. The All-Big 12 Second Team honoree dove toward the right post and pushed the ball up. It bounced across the line to the right post before it rolled out of play.
The Mountaineers (16-1-1, 6-0-1) emphatically responded 10 minutes later, as they scored two goals in 100 seconds to push the team into the Big 12 Soccer Championship semifinal for the third time in as many seasons. The two-time defending tournament champions, WVU will face the winner of No. 4 Oklahoma – No. 5 Texas Tech on Friday, Nov. 6, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
“This team is so dynamic in their commraderie and the way they push each other and step-up for each other, and I was so proud of their effort today,” said Big 12 Coach of the Year Nikki Izzo-Brown, who stands just four wins short of career victory No. 300. “We faced a physical team today. I think this team will respond to anything an opponent throws its way. Today’s game was very physical and very direct. They are an attack-minded team, and we stood tall and handled the pressure.”
Today’s victory pushes WVU’s unbeaten streak to 16 and puts the Mountaineers’ all-time record at the Big 12 Championship at 6-1-1. WVU improves to 6-0 all-time against the Cowgirls (9-9-2, 2-4-2), with all six wins one-goal victories.
Sophomore forward Amandine Pierre-Louis opened the game’s scoring in the 81st minute, converting on a hard blast just outside the 18-yard box. Pierre-Louis’ shot sailed over the outstretched hands of Michela Ongaro before landing inside the net for her third goal of the season. Sophomore forward Michaela Abam assisted on the score, her first career helper.
Senior midfielder Amanda Hill instantly gave the Mountaineers a two-goal cushion, netting her fourth goal of the season on a brilliant individual effort, as she spun with the ball near the top of the box before sending her shot toward the left post and away from a diving Ongaro.
“We had great senior leadership across the field today, but especially from Hannah with her huge penalty-kick save and Amanda, who was our quarterback the whole game,” said Izzo-Brown.
The Mountaineers finished with a 24-11 shot advantage and forced OSU into seven saves, with Ongaro earning credit for six. The Mountaineers finished with four saves, with three going to Steadman. WVU earned a 7-6 edge in corner kicks.
The Cowgirls added interest late in the physical battle, as they earned their second penalty kick of the match in the 84th minute. This time, midfielder Allie Stephenson took the chance for OSU and converted, denying WVU its 14th shutout of the season.
The WVU defense put forth a strong effort today, withstanding several dangerous attacks. Junior Kadeisha Buchanan, the three-time reigning Big 12 Defender of the Year, made several key blocks, including one on a Mercado shot in the 66th minute just before OSU’s first penalty kick.
“Keesha kept it all together for us – she proved why she’s again the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year,” said Izzo-Brown. “It was incredible the way she kept our backline together. She is always responding to what I’m asking her to do.”
Both teams earned their fair share of chances in the first half.
Sophomore Carla Portillo nearly converted on a free kick just outside the box in the ninth minute, but her high shot sailed left of the post.
OSU responded with a dangerous opportunity inside the box following the team’s second corner kick. Delaney Kiely’s initital shot was blocked. The ball eventually landed near Courtney Dike, and she sent a low shot toward that line that was saved at the last minute by senior forward Kailey Utley.
The Mountaineers’ fourth corner of the first half almost gave the team the chance it needed in the 30th minute, as WVU earned three shots, including a brilliant header by Buchanan, but the ball cruelly bounced off the crossbar and back into play before OSU settled for a goal kick.
Pierre-Louis paced the field with six shots, including a game-high four on-goal. Hill finished just behind her with four shots.
