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Utley Pushes No. 11/15 WVU to Win
August 28, 2015 09:52 PM | Women's Soccer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – A goal from senior forward Kailey Utley in the 25th minute was all the No. 11/15 West Virginia University women’s soccer team needed, as the Mountaineers earned a 1-0 victory over Maryland tonight at Ludwig Field.
WVU (2-1) suffocated the Terrapins (2-1) in the first-ever meeting between the squads, finishing with a 21-5 shot advantage. The Mountaineers placed seven on-frame, forcing UMD’s Rachelle Beanlands to make six saves, while WVU’s Hannah Steadman finished with two saves for her second shutout of the season. WVU also earned a 6-0 edge in corner kicks.
“We talked a lot this week about the opportunities that we missed last Sunday against Virginia Tech, and I thought that the productivity was good tonight,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We hit several goalposts and crossbars, but most importantly, we found a way to win. In the game of soccer, it’s about finding a way. This team played hard and played with intensity for 90 minutes. They earned this win, and I’m proud of them.
“This isn’t an easy place to play. Maryland is a very good side. We definitely set the tone, and we didn’t let anything throw us off our game tonight.”
Utley was in perfect position for her second goal of the season, pouncing on the ball inside the goal mouth after Maryland’s Rachelle Beanlands stopped forward Amandine Pierre-Louis’ initial shot. Minutes after she subbed in, Pierre-Louis took an in-stride shot from just inside the box. Beanlands met the ball low at the right post, but she was unable to hold on to the ball, giving Utley the chance she needed.
The score was Utley’s first career goal in an opponent’s venue.
The first half was full of quality looks for the Mountaineers. Freshman forward Nia Gordon had a fantastic chance in the seventh minute, taking the ball up the right side of the field and deep into the box, but her shot from close range banged off the goalpost.
Utley nearly put the Mountaineers on the board in the 18th minute, as she was on the receiving end of a ball from sophomore Michaela Abam inside the penalty-kick line. The St. Louis, Missouri, native drove toward the net, but Beanlands was there for a push save.
UMD’s best first-half chance came in the 43rd minute, but an awkward shot from Alex Anthony as she fell in the box was easily grabbed out of the air by Steadman.
WVU got lucky in the 62nd minute, as midfielder Sarah Molina earned a clean look at the net, but her shot deceptively slipped by the near right post and out of play.
Just three minutes later, Utley was on the wrong-end of an unlucky bounce. After receiving a great cross, she played with the UMD defenders before taking a clean look at the net from just above the penalty-line, but her shot knocked off the crossbar and out of play.
Steadman came up big in the 70th minute, laying out for a diving save on a sailing shot from Sarah Fichtner.
After three straight matches on the road, the Mountaineers open their 2015 home season at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 30, against Duquesne, at 3 p.m. It’s a “Dollar Day,” and all tickets and select concessions are available for $1 each. Fans can now purchase tickets online in advance for any home match this season by visiting WVUGAME.com and selecting the Print-At-Home or Mobile Delivery option.
Additionally, the team will meet with fans to sign autographs following the match.
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