No. 5/8 Mountaineers Cruise to Victory
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 13, 2015) – A stout defensive effort and a multi-goal performance from sophomore forward Michaela Abam helped the No. 5/8 West Virginia University women’s soccer team cruise to a 4-0 win over Longwood, today, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The Mountaineers (7-1) smothered the Lancers (3-4) this afternoon, allowing the ball to cross midfield a handful of times and denying Longwood a shot.
Today marked the second time in as many seasons, and the fifth time in program history, WVU has denied an opponent a shot, as UNC Greensboro failed to tally a shot in WVU’s 2-0 win on Sept. 7, 2014. The Mountaineers have denied three opponents a shot on-goal this year.
WVU has now tallied six straight shutouts for seven on the season.
“I’m really pleased with the way the defense is playing right now. It was huge for us to go to Ohio State Friday night and get a shutout over a very good nationally ranked team, and it was just as big to get another shutout today,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “Our hope is that we’ll continue to climb. Most importantly, we want that No. 1 ranking at the end of the year. Right now, we’re focused on winning and getting better each game.”
The Mountaineer offense was equally impressive today, tallying a season-high 41 shots, the fourth-best single-game total in program history, with 16 landing on frame. WVU is only the second team this season to score more than one goal on the Lancers.
WVU has outshot its opponents 192-34 through eight games this season.
Abam paced the field with a career-high 10 shots, with four on-goal. Junior midfielder Ashley Lawrence and sophomore forward Amandine Pierre-Louis each finished with five shots.
Abam opened the Mountaineers’ scoring in the 13th minute, connecting on a service inside the box from freshman defender Bianca St. Georges as she fell to the ground. The Houston native’s shot from the tip of her toes went toward the right post, far away from the outstretched hands of Longwood’s Hailey Machen.
Senior forward Kailey Utley added a score five minutes later, her fifth goal of the season. Lawrence made a heads-up play on the chance, as her through ball found a streaking Utley inside the box, and she was able to finish easily, sending her shot to the right corner.
Abam connected on her fifth shot in the 24th minute, receiving a pretty flick at the 18-yard line from sophomore midfielder Carla Portillo. Without hesitation, Abam took a hard shot from 10-yards out that she buried near the right post.
The reigning Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, Abam now shows a team-best seven goals on the season, one short of the team-high eight goals she tallied in 2014. Utley’s five goals match her 2014 output.
Midfielder Yulie Lopez nearly made it a four-goal half, as she tallied back-to-back shots in the 37th minute, forcing Machen into two of her eight saves. The sophomore’s second chance was clinical, as she drove the net through traffic before taking a point-blank shot inside the goal mouth, but Machen was there for the catching save.
The Mountaineers pushed their lead to 4-0 less than five minutes into the second half off a goal from Portillo. WVU controlled possession from the whistle and quickly moved the ball into the Longwood box. After a few Mountaineer touches, senior midfielder Amanda Hill sent a quick pass to Portillo, and she placed her shot toward the far right post. The score was the first career goal for the Mississauga, Ontario, native.
Abam’s seventh shot of the game nearly netted her a third goal in the 59th minute. After receiving a through ball from junior Kadeisha Buchanan, Abam turned inside the box and took a blast toward the far left post. Machen dove to meet the ball and pushed it out of play with her fingertips.
Senior Hannah Steadman and sophomore Michelle Newhouse each played one half in net today.
Machen allowed four goals and finished with eight saves in 62:27 minutes of action. Maria Kirby replaced Machen midway through the second half and finished with four saves.
WVU registered a season-high 12 corner kicks while denying the Lancers an opportunity.
The Mountaineers are now 3-0 against first-time opponents this season.
WVU concludes its nonconference season next weekend with two matches at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Mountaineers will play host to Buffalo on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m., and Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m.
Sunday is a “Dollar Day,” and a tickets and select concessions will be available for $1 each. Additionally, Youth Soccer Day is scheduled for Sunday, and all youth teams in attendance will have an opportunity to participate in a parade at halftime.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 13, 2015) – A stout defensive effort and a multi-goal performance from sophomore forward Michaela Abam helped the No. 5/8 West Virginia University women’s soccer team cruise to a 4-0 win over Longwood, today, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The Mountaineers (7-1) smothered the Lancers (3-4) this afternoon, allowing the ball to cross midfield a handful of times and denying Longwood a shot.
Today marked the second time in as many seasons, and the fifth time in program history, WVU has denied an opponent a shot, as UNC Greensboro failed to tally a shot in WVU’s 2-0 win on Sept. 7, 2014. The Mountaineers have denied three opponents a shot on-goal this year.
WVU has now tallied six straight shutouts for seven on the season.
“I’m really pleased with the way the defense is playing right now. It was huge for us to go to Ohio State Friday night and get a shutout over a very good nationally ranked team, and it was just as big to get another shutout today,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “Our hope is that we’ll continue to climb. Most importantly, we want that No. 1 ranking at the end of the year. Right now, we’re focused on winning and getting better each game.”
The Mountaineer offense was equally impressive today, tallying a season-high 41 shots, the fourth-best single-game total in program history, with 16 landing on frame. WVU is only the second team this season to score more than one goal on the Lancers.
WVU has outshot its opponents 192-34 through eight games this season.
Abam paced the field with a career-high 10 shots, with four on-goal. Junior midfielder Ashley Lawrence and sophomore forward Amandine Pierre-Louis each finished with five shots.
Abam opened the Mountaineers’ scoring in the 13th minute, connecting on a service inside the box from freshman defender Bianca St. Georges as she fell to the ground. The Houston native’s shot from the tip of her toes went toward the right post, far away from the outstretched hands of Longwood’s Hailey Machen.
Senior forward Kailey Utley added a score five minutes later, her fifth goal of the season. Lawrence made a heads-up play on the chance, as her through ball found a streaking Utley inside the box, and she was able to finish easily, sending her shot to the right corner.
Abam connected on her fifth shot in the 24th minute, receiving a pretty flick at the 18-yard line from sophomore midfielder Carla Portillo. Without hesitation, Abam took a hard shot from 10-yards out that she buried near the right post.
The reigning Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, Abam now shows a team-best seven goals on the season, one short of the team-high eight goals she tallied in 2014. Utley’s five goals match her 2014 output.
Midfielder Yulie Lopez nearly made it a four-goal half, as she tallied back-to-back shots in the 37th minute, forcing Machen into two of her eight saves. The sophomore’s second chance was clinical, as she drove the net through traffic before taking a point-blank shot inside the goal mouth, but Machen was there for the catching save.
The Mountaineers pushed their lead to 4-0 less than five minutes into the second half off a goal from Portillo. WVU controlled possession from the whistle and quickly moved the ball into the Longwood box. After a few Mountaineer touches, senior midfielder Amanda Hill sent a quick pass to Portillo, and she placed her shot toward the far right post. The score was the first career goal for the Mississauga, Ontario, native.
Abam’s seventh shot of the game nearly netted her a third goal in the 59th minute. After receiving a through ball from junior Kadeisha Buchanan, Abam turned inside the box and took a blast toward the far left post. Machen dove to meet the ball and pushed it out of play with her fingertips.
Senior Hannah Steadman and sophomore Michelle Newhouse each played one half in net today.
Machen allowed four goals and finished with eight saves in 62:27 minutes of action. Maria Kirby replaced Machen midway through the second half and finished with four saves.
WVU registered a season-high 12 corner kicks while denying the Lancers an opportunity.
The Mountaineers are now 3-0 against first-time opponents this season.
WVU concludes its nonconference season next weekend with two matches at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Mountaineers will play host to Buffalo on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m., and Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m.
Sunday is a “Dollar Day,” and a tickets and select concessions will be available for $1 each. Additionally, Youth Soccer Day is scheduled for Sunday, and all youth teams in attendance will have an opportunity to participate in a parade at halftime.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter.
