Abam Named WVU Student-Athlete of the Week
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 7, 2015) – Following a program-record four-goal performance in the No. 5/12 Mountaineers’ 8-0 win against Villanova on Sept. 6, sophomore forward Michaela Abamhas been named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week, presented by University Apartments.
Abam is the first Mountaineer in the program’s 20-year history to score four goals in a single game. The Houston native finished with eight points against the Wildcats, also a program record. She now shows a team-best five goals and ranks second on the team with 10 points.
The Mountaineers’ eight-goal performance matched the program’s single-game record, first hit in 2006 and again in 2008.
WVU’s win against Villanova at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium followed a thrilling 1-0 victory over then No. 5/7 Penn State on Sept. 4, also in Morgantown. The Mountaineers (5-1) have posted five shutouts this season.
This Week in Women’s Soccer:The No. 5/12 Mountaineers travel to Columbus, Ohio, for a match at Ohio State on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium … WVU returns to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, for a 1 p.m. match against Longwood.
Last Week in Women’s Soccer:The Mountaineers (5-1) pushed their shutout streak to four matches with a pair of nonconference wins in Morgantown, defeating No. 5/7 Penn State, 1-0, on Sept. 4, and Villanova, 8-0, on Sept. 6 … seniorAmanda Hillnetted the game-winner against PSU in the eighth minute, withBianca St. Georgesadding the assist … freshman forwardNia Gordonscored the game-winner against the Wildcats 83 seconds into Sunday’s match … sophomore forwardMichaela Abamadded a program-record four goals, while senior forwardKailey Utleydished out a program-record four assists … sophomore forwardKayla Saagerscored twice, and junior midfielderAshley Lawrencealso notched a goal … senior defenderMaggie Bedillionassisted on two of Abam’s scores … WVU held its opponents to a combined 11 shots, with PSU placing two on-goal, and VU earning one shot on-frame.
Notes and Quotes:Friday’s match against PSU was initially delayed 98 minutes, and again in the eighth minute for 44 minutes … WVU’s win vs. the Nittany Lions was its first since 2010 … the Mountaineers have now defeated at least one top-10 opponent in each of the last 11 seasons … WVU has blanked its opponents in each of its five wins this season … the Mountaineers have played 388:21 minutes of shutout action since losing to No. 11/13 Virginia Tech, 2-1, on Aug. 23 … WVU’s eight goals against the Wildcats matched a program record first set in 2006 and again in 2008 … Abam’s eight points also were a school single-game record.
This Week in Men’s Soccer:The WVU men’s soccer team concludes a two-match roadtrip in the Big Ten at Michigan State on Monday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. … West Virginia returns home to host James Madison on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Last Week in Men’s Soccer:In the first match of their roadtrip, the Mountaineers lost to Michigan, 3-1, on Friday in Ann Arbor, Michigan … senior midfielderRyan Cainscored his second goal of the season in the 84th minute … Cain netted WVU’s goal on a header at 83:26 after a corner kick by sophomoreJoey Piatczyc… it was Cain’s second goal in as many games, and his two goals on the year are tied for the team lead … after a record four-assist match on Sunday, Aug. 30, Piatczyc now leads the team with five assists in 2015 … West Virginia played a strong second half, with 12 of 13 shots and all five shots on goal after the intermission.
This Week in Volleyball:West Virginia hits the road for the third time in as many weeks when they travel to Hanover, New Hampshire, for the Dartmouth Invitational next weekend ... the Mountaineers will face host Dartmouth on Friday, Sept. 11, in a 7 p.m. tilt, before taking on UConn in a 5 p.m. match Saturday evening.
Last Week in Volleyball:The Mountaineers traveled to the IUPUI Hampton Inn Invitational in Indianapolis, going 1-3 at the event ... despite 10 kills fromBridgett Talia, WVU fell to Eastern Michigan 3-1, on Friday evening ... the team then rebounded for a 3-1 win over Charlotte behind 18 kills fromDzeni Hadzisehovic... the Mountaineers dropped a five-set heartbreaker to host IUPUI by a score of 3-2, on Saturday night ...Morgan Montgomeryled the team with 16 kills in the loss.
Notes and Quotes:Dzeni Hadzisehovicled the team with 3.17 kills per set, hitting .537 in the process to rank in the top-10 of the Big 12 in both categories and earning all-tournament team honors ... the Belgrade, Serbia, native had a career-high 18 kills, hitting for a .600 clip and going for a career-high six blocks ...Gianna Gotterbahad a career-best 22 kills in the team’s loss to IUPUI, ranking fifth in the Big 12 with 3.85 digs per set ... freshmanBridgett Taliaalso had a career weekend, putting up 13 kills in the loss to the Jaguars and having three aces against both EMU and Charlotte.
Coach Reed Sunahara:“We got a lot of experience this weekend,” said coach Reed Sunahara. “A lot of people got playing time, and it’s good to see people coming off the bench and having an impact. I challenged Gianna earlier this week and I think she made some great strides in leading our floor defense.”
This Week in Golf:WVU will play the final round of the Tiger Turning Stone Invitational on Monday, Sept. 7 ... the team will then travel to Huntington, West Virginia, for their first in-state competition at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational next Monday, Sept. 14, and Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Last Week in Golf:The Mountaineers teed off for the first time since 1982 this weekend, taking part in the Tiger Turning Stone Invitational hosted by Missouri at Tiger Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York ... WVU shot a 300 in the first round before improving to 294 in the second, and sits tied for seventh with one round remaining ... freshmanMax Searis in position for a top-10 finish, ranking eighth at -1 through 36 holes.
Coach Sean Covich:“We are excited to start our first event of the season at such a fine resort,” said WVU coach Sean Covich. “Turning Stone has hosted great events in the past, such as the PGA Tour. We’ve been fortunate to be able to play a few practice rounds on the Kaluhyat Course, and I think the guys have a good feel for it now. This is a difficult course where par is a good score. I look forward to seeing the guys finally compete.”
This Week in Cross Country:The Mountaineers travel to University Park, Pennsylvania, to compete at the PSU Spiked Shoe Invitational on Friday, Sept. 3, at 5:30 p.m.
Last Week in Cross Country:The team opened its 2015 season with the WVU Alumni Open … the Mountaineers had a total of 22 runners on the 4k trail, seven of which were alumni ... the team was placed in pairs of two, having 11 teams total, with one teammate running the first leg of the race and the second runner making the return trip ... runners recorded both a team time and an individual time ... juniorBrianna Kerekesand sophomoreMillie Paladinoeach finished in 11:10 to tie for the top individual time ... five teams tied for first with a combined time of 22:54 ... the winning teams wereMegan YuanandMillie Paladino,Allie DiehlandBrynn Harshbarger,Corinne KuleandBrianna Kerekes, alumnae Kaylyn Christopher and Clara Santucci and alumnaeKaitlyn Gillespieand Heather Cleary ... former Mountaineers also included Heather Parks, Aubrey Moskul andLydia Martinelli... four freshman ran unattached:Anna French,Candace Jones,Peyton PangerandOlivia Hill.
Notes & Quotes:WVU cross country is ranked at No. 10 in the USTFCCCA 2015 preseason national rankings ... it marks the eighth straight season WVU ranks in the preseason poll ... in 2014, the Mountaineers placed fifth at the PSU Spiked Invitational at University Park, Pennsylvania.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 7, 2015) – Following a program-record four-goal performance in the No. 5/12 Mountaineers’ 8-0 win against Villanova on Sept. 6, sophomore forward Michaela Abamhas been named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week, presented by University Apartments.
Abam is the first Mountaineer in the program’s 20-year history to score four goals in a single game. The Houston native finished with eight points against the Wildcats, also a program record. She now shows a team-best five goals and ranks second on the team with 10 points.
The Mountaineers’ eight-goal performance matched the program’s single-game record, first hit in 2006 and again in 2008.
WVU’s win against Villanova at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium followed a thrilling 1-0 victory over then No. 5/7 Penn State on Sept. 4, also in Morgantown. The Mountaineers (5-1) have posted five shutouts this season.
This Week in Women’s Soccer:The No. 5/12 Mountaineers travel to Columbus, Ohio, for a match at Ohio State on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium … WVU returns to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, for a 1 p.m. match against Longwood.
Last Week in Women’s Soccer:The Mountaineers (5-1) pushed their shutout streak to four matches with a pair of nonconference wins in Morgantown, defeating No. 5/7 Penn State, 1-0, on Sept. 4, and Villanova, 8-0, on Sept. 6 … seniorAmanda Hillnetted the game-winner against PSU in the eighth minute, withBianca St. Georgesadding the assist … freshman forwardNia Gordonscored the game-winner against the Wildcats 83 seconds into Sunday’s match … sophomore forwardMichaela Abamadded a program-record four goals, while senior forwardKailey Utleydished out a program-record four assists … sophomore forwardKayla Saagerscored twice, and junior midfielderAshley Lawrencealso notched a goal … senior defenderMaggie Bedillionassisted on two of Abam’s scores … WVU held its opponents to a combined 11 shots, with PSU placing two on-goal, and VU earning one shot on-frame.
Notes and Quotes:Friday’s match against PSU was initially delayed 98 minutes, and again in the eighth minute for 44 minutes … WVU’s win vs. the Nittany Lions was its first since 2010 … the Mountaineers have now defeated at least one top-10 opponent in each of the last 11 seasons … WVU has blanked its opponents in each of its five wins this season … the Mountaineers have played 388:21 minutes of shutout action since losing to No. 11/13 Virginia Tech, 2-1, on Aug. 23 … WVU’s eight goals against the Wildcats matched a program record first set in 2006 and again in 2008 … Abam’s eight points also were a school single-game record.
This Week in Men’s Soccer:The WVU men’s soccer team concludes a two-match roadtrip in the Big Ten at Michigan State on Monday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. … West Virginia returns home to host James Madison on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Last Week in Men’s Soccer:In the first match of their roadtrip, the Mountaineers lost to Michigan, 3-1, on Friday in Ann Arbor, Michigan … senior midfielderRyan Cainscored his second goal of the season in the 84th minute … Cain netted WVU’s goal on a header at 83:26 after a corner kick by sophomoreJoey Piatczyc… it was Cain’s second goal in as many games, and his two goals on the year are tied for the team lead … after a record four-assist match on Sunday, Aug. 30, Piatczyc now leads the team with five assists in 2015 … West Virginia played a strong second half, with 12 of 13 shots and all five shots on goal after the intermission.
This Week in Volleyball:West Virginia hits the road for the third time in as many weeks when they travel to Hanover, New Hampshire, for the Dartmouth Invitational next weekend ... the Mountaineers will face host Dartmouth on Friday, Sept. 11, in a 7 p.m. tilt, before taking on UConn in a 5 p.m. match Saturday evening.
Last Week in Volleyball:The Mountaineers traveled to the IUPUI Hampton Inn Invitational in Indianapolis, going 1-3 at the event ... despite 10 kills fromBridgett Talia, WVU fell to Eastern Michigan 3-1, on Friday evening ... the team then rebounded for a 3-1 win over Charlotte behind 18 kills fromDzeni Hadzisehovic... the Mountaineers dropped a five-set heartbreaker to host IUPUI by a score of 3-2, on Saturday night ...Morgan Montgomeryled the team with 16 kills in the loss.
Notes and Quotes:Dzeni Hadzisehovicled the team with 3.17 kills per set, hitting .537 in the process to rank in the top-10 of the Big 12 in both categories and earning all-tournament team honors ... the Belgrade, Serbia, native had a career-high 18 kills, hitting for a .600 clip and going for a career-high six blocks ...Gianna Gotterbahad a career-best 22 kills in the team’s loss to IUPUI, ranking fifth in the Big 12 with 3.85 digs per set ... freshmanBridgett Taliaalso had a career weekend, putting up 13 kills in the loss to the Jaguars and having three aces against both EMU and Charlotte.
Coach Reed Sunahara:“We got a lot of experience this weekend,” said coach Reed Sunahara. “A lot of people got playing time, and it’s good to see people coming off the bench and having an impact. I challenged Gianna earlier this week and I think she made some great strides in leading our floor defense.”
This Week in Golf:WVU will play the final round of the Tiger Turning Stone Invitational on Monday, Sept. 7 ... the team will then travel to Huntington, West Virginia, for their first in-state competition at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational next Monday, Sept. 14, and Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Last Week in Golf:The Mountaineers teed off for the first time since 1982 this weekend, taking part in the Tiger Turning Stone Invitational hosted by Missouri at Tiger Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York ... WVU shot a 300 in the first round before improving to 294 in the second, and sits tied for seventh with one round remaining ... freshmanMax Searis in position for a top-10 finish, ranking eighth at -1 through 36 holes.
Coach Sean Covich:“We are excited to start our first event of the season at such a fine resort,” said WVU coach Sean Covich. “Turning Stone has hosted great events in the past, such as the PGA Tour. We’ve been fortunate to be able to play a few practice rounds on the Kaluhyat Course, and I think the guys have a good feel for it now. This is a difficult course where par is a good score. I look forward to seeing the guys finally compete.”
This Week in Cross Country:The Mountaineers travel to University Park, Pennsylvania, to compete at the PSU Spiked Shoe Invitational on Friday, Sept. 3, at 5:30 p.m.
Last Week in Cross Country:The team opened its 2015 season with the WVU Alumni Open … the Mountaineers had a total of 22 runners on the 4k trail, seven of which were alumni ... the team was placed in pairs of two, having 11 teams total, with one teammate running the first leg of the race and the second runner making the return trip ... runners recorded both a team time and an individual time ... juniorBrianna Kerekesand sophomoreMillie Paladinoeach finished in 11:10 to tie for the top individual time ... five teams tied for first with a combined time of 22:54 ... the winning teams wereMegan YuanandMillie Paladino,Allie DiehlandBrynn Harshbarger,Corinne KuleandBrianna Kerekes, alumnae Kaylyn Christopher and Clara Santucci and alumnaeKaitlyn Gillespieand Heather Cleary ... former Mountaineers also included Heather Parks, Aubrey Moskul andLydia Martinelli... four freshman ran unattached:Anna French,Candace Jones,Peyton PangerandOlivia Hill.
Notes & Quotes:WVU cross country is ranked at No. 10 in the USTFCCCA 2015 preseason national rankings ... it marks the eighth straight season WVU ranks in the preseason poll ... in 2014, the Mountaineers placed fifth at the PSU Spiked Invitational at University Park, Pennsylvania.
