No. 4/7 Mountaineers Find Way to Win
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 18, 2015) – The No. 4/7 West Virginia University women’s soccer team needed seven extra minutes, but in the end the Mountaineers were able to leave Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium with a win, as WVU knocked off Buffalo, 1-0, in overtime this evening.
Despite outshooting the Bulls 41-1, an own goal in the 97th minute proved to be the difference tonight. Senior defender Maggie Bedillion sent a great cross toward a streaking Michaela Abam. UB’s Brianna Shingary attempted to intercept the pass, but instead the defender redirected the ball toward the right post, handing the Mountaineers’ their seventh straight victory.
The win is 20-year coach Nikki Izzo-Brown’s 275th victory at WVU.
“I think everyone knew how hard this team was working,” said Izzo-Brown. “It’s a cruel game. Michaela Abam was right there. I give all the credit to Maggie Bedillion for finding a way to will that ball in.”
The own goal followed a thrilling few minutes of free soccer. WVU (8-1) possessed off kick and immediately earned its first of three overtime corner kicks. Ensuing play allowed the ball to fall to Bedillion’s feet, and she sent a great service into Abam, who turned and took a low shot toward the far right post. Forced to come off her line, UB’s Laura Dougall made a last-ditch kick save, denying Abam her golden opportunity. Two more WVU corner kicks followed before Shingary’s slip.
“Coach always says that we have to adapt to teams, not get frustrated and play West Virginia soccer,” said Bedillion. “We had so many chances tonight. After all the hard work by the team, it was great to see this result.”
Tonight’s shutout is WVU’s seventh consecutive clean sheet and eighth of the season. UB (4-3-1) is the second consecutive team, and fourth of the season, to fail to place a shot on-goal against the WVU defense.
The Mountaineers were relentless in their pursuit of the elusive goal, tallying 41 shots for the second straight game. UB’s lone shot came off a free kick in the 68th minute following a yellow card to Bianca St. Georges. Jackie Hall’s chance sailed over the net, giving Mountaineer senior Hannah Steadman her fifth shutout of the season.
“I think Buffalo had a great game plan,” Izzo-Brown said. “They wanted to disrupt us, and that was the first time we’ve seen that this year. We just found a way to finish. It was frustrating, but you have to give Buffalo credit. You have to credit our team, too – tonight was a great learning opportunity. We found a way to win.”
Abam finished with a career-high 10 shots for the second time this season. The sophomore forward paced the field with four shots on-goal. Senior forward Kailey Utley added seven shots, while sophomore forward Amandine Pierre-Louis finished with six.
Dougall finished with 10 saves.
The Mountaineers took their shots early against the Bulls, who were happy to pack nine in the box against WVU’s lethal attack. With so many defenders in place, UB was able to block several of the Mountaineers’ chances, including a turning shot by Utley in the 19th minute. Only three of WVU’s 17 first-half goals were on-frame.
WVU came out firing early in the second half. St. Georges opened the frame with a hard shot from the right wing in the 50th minute that Dougall flicked with her hands back into the box.
A great service in the 53rd minute from junior midfielder Ashley Lawrence nearly led to a WVU goal, but Dougall laid out at the right post to defend two point-blank shots from Abam.
Utley made UB pay for a misplayed ball in the 64th minute, deftly moving past Bull defenders with her quick feet, but her low shot from just outside the box skimmed past the left post.
WVU finished with a 17-0 edge in corner kicks, the second-best single game total in program history and the most since the Mountaineers tallied 18 against Villanova in 2008. WVU has denied three opponents a corner kick this season.
Tonight was the first meeting between the teams. WVU is 4-0 against first-time opponents this year.
The Mountaineers return to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium Sunday for a 1 p.m. match against Florida Gulf Coast. Sunday is a “Dollar Day,” with all tickets and select concession items available for $1 each. Tickets for the match are available now at WVUGAME.com and also can be purchased at the stadium gate. WVU students are admitted free with a valid WVU student I.D.
Youth Soccer Day also is scheduled for Sunday, and items from US Youth Soccer Month will be distributed. Additionally, fans will have an opportunity to take pictures with Travis Braden’s WVU race car at the match, and Mr. Twister will be in attendance, offering free face painting and balloon animals for all youth fans.
Due to the Morgantown Marathon Sunday morning, fans are only permitted to park in the lower Shell/Natatorium lot/Band lot, adjacent to the track. This lot will only be accessible off Monongahela Blvd.
A free shuttle bus will be available from the Mountainlair and the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop for an hour leading up to Sunday’s start time. Return service to the Mountainlair and the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop also will be available for an hour at the conclusion of the match.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 18, 2015) – The No. 4/7 West Virginia University women’s soccer team needed seven extra minutes, but in the end the Mountaineers were able to leave Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium with a win, as WVU knocked off Buffalo, 1-0, in overtime this evening.
Despite outshooting the Bulls 41-1, an own goal in the 97th minute proved to be the difference tonight. Senior defender Maggie Bedillion sent a great cross toward a streaking Michaela Abam. UB’s Brianna Shingary attempted to intercept the pass, but instead the defender redirected the ball toward the right post, handing the Mountaineers’ their seventh straight victory.
The win is 20-year coach Nikki Izzo-Brown’s 275th victory at WVU.
“I think everyone knew how hard this team was working,” said Izzo-Brown. “It’s a cruel game. Michaela Abam was right there. I give all the credit to Maggie Bedillion for finding a way to will that ball in.”
The own goal followed a thrilling few minutes of free soccer. WVU (8-1) possessed off kick and immediately earned its first of three overtime corner kicks. Ensuing play allowed the ball to fall to Bedillion’s feet, and she sent a great service into Abam, who turned and took a low shot toward the far right post. Forced to come off her line, UB’s Laura Dougall made a last-ditch kick save, denying Abam her golden opportunity. Two more WVU corner kicks followed before Shingary’s slip.
“Coach always says that we have to adapt to teams, not get frustrated and play West Virginia soccer,” said Bedillion. “We had so many chances tonight. After all the hard work by the team, it was great to see this result.”
Tonight’s shutout is WVU’s seventh consecutive clean sheet and eighth of the season. UB (4-3-1) is the second consecutive team, and fourth of the season, to fail to place a shot on-goal against the WVU defense.
The Mountaineers were relentless in their pursuit of the elusive goal, tallying 41 shots for the second straight game. UB’s lone shot came off a free kick in the 68th minute following a yellow card to Bianca St. Georges. Jackie Hall’s chance sailed over the net, giving Mountaineer senior Hannah Steadman her fifth shutout of the season.
“I think Buffalo had a great game plan,” Izzo-Brown said. “They wanted to disrupt us, and that was the first time we’ve seen that this year. We just found a way to finish. It was frustrating, but you have to give Buffalo credit. You have to credit our team, too – tonight was a great learning opportunity. We found a way to win.”
Abam finished with a career-high 10 shots for the second time this season. The sophomore forward paced the field with four shots on-goal. Senior forward Kailey Utley added seven shots, while sophomore forward Amandine Pierre-Louis finished with six.
Dougall finished with 10 saves.
The Mountaineers took their shots early against the Bulls, who were happy to pack nine in the box against WVU’s lethal attack. With so many defenders in place, UB was able to block several of the Mountaineers’ chances, including a turning shot by Utley in the 19th minute. Only three of WVU’s 17 first-half goals were on-frame.
WVU came out firing early in the second half. St. Georges opened the frame with a hard shot from the right wing in the 50th minute that Dougall flicked with her hands back into the box.
A great service in the 53rd minute from junior midfielder Ashley Lawrence nearly led to a WVU goal, but Dougall laid out at the right post to defend two point-blank shots from Abam.
Utley made UB pay for a misplayed ball in the 64th minute, deftly moving past Bull defenders with her quick feet, but her low shot from just outside the box skimmed past the left post.
WVU finished with a 17-0 edge in corner kicks, the second-best single game total in program history and the most since the Mountaineers tallied 18 against Villanova in 2008. WVU has denied three opponents a corner kick this season.
Tonight was the first meeting between the teams. WVU is 4-0 against first-time opponents this year.
The Mountaineers return to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium Sunday for a 1 p.m. match against Florida Gulf Coast. Sunday is a “Dollar Day,” with all tickets and select concession items available for $1 each. Tickets for the match are available now at WVUGAME.com and also can be purchased at the stadium gate. WVU students are admitted free with a valid WVU student I.D.
Youth Soccer Day also is scheduled for Sunday, and items from US Youth Soccer Month will be distributed. Additionally, fans will have an opportunity to take pictures with Travis Braden’s WVU race car at the match, and Mr. Twister will be in attendance, offering free face painting and balloon animals for all youth fans.
Due to the Morgantown Marathon Sunday morning, fans are only permitted to park in the lower Shell/Natatorium lot/Band lot, adjacent to the track. This lot will only be accessible off Monongahela Blvd.
A free shuttle bus will be available from the Mountainlair and the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop for an hour leading up to Sunday’s start time. Return service to the Mountainlair and the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop also will be available for an hour at the conclusion of the match.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter.
