Women's Soccer Blanked by Flash
March 14, 2015 03:06 PM | General
 |
|
Izzo-Brown
|
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women’s soccer team opened its 2015 spring season with a 4-0 loss to the Western New York Flash, today, at Sahlen Sports Park, in Elma, New York.
After going down 1-0 in the 44th minute off a Flash free kick, the Mountaineers allowed three additional goals in the second half.
“It was very, very good to see where we are starting at this spring,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We played against professionals today, and it showed. They’re a very organized, physical and well-managed club, so it was great for us to get this experience. We had some good moments against world-class athletes, but obviously we don’t like to lose.”
Redshirt-freshman forward Amandine Pierre-Louis led the Mountaineers with three shots, including one on-goal. She tallied the team’s best scoring chance just eight minutes in, as a shot from 30-yards out hit off the far crossbar.
Three additional Mountaineers also tallied one shot on-goal.
Two goalies split time in the net and combined for 17 saves, with redshirt-freshman Michelle Newhouse playing the first 45 minutes, and junior Hannah Steadman coming off the bench in the second half. Of Newhouse’s 10 saves, three were made on consecutive shots in the 16th minute. Steadman came up with a big stand in the 82nd minute, stopping a Flash penalty kick with a diving save to the right post.
“Collectively, both goalkeepers did their job today,” said Izzo-Brown. “I was pleased with how they managed the game for us.”
Of note, the Mountaineer defense was able to draw the Flash offside nine times today.
“I was so pleased with the backline,” Izzo-Brown added. “They have been very focused on staying organized and not allowing an opponent to break them down. We’ve worked on it for the last two weeks, so it was great to see them implement the plan today. They earned every bit of those offsides.”
The Mountaineers open their home spring slate on Friday, April 3, against Pitt, at 7 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Andrew Powdrell | April 15
Thursday, April 16
Coach Pat Kirkland | April 15
Thursday, April 16
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 15
Thursday, April 16
Alumni Series | Louisa Morgan Hoogduin
Wednesday, April 15
