Post by rainman on Nov 25, 2007 9:36:56 GMT -5
WVU women’s soccer advances to Elite Eight
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Krystle Kallman’s header in the 71st minute pushed fourth-seed West Virginia past top-seed Penn State (18-4-2), 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Jeffrey Field.
The win is the first-ever road victory in the NCAA tournament for WVU and moves the Mountaineers into the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in school history.
The Mountaineers (18-4-2) dominated play from the opening whistle, and a persistent offensive attack paid off on Kallman’s second goal of the season.
The only goal of the contest was set up by junior midfielder Amanda Cicchini, who was fouled from behind giving WVU a free kick from 30 yards out.
Cicchini also served the ball to Kallman, who headed the ball toward the top right corner of the net. Penn State goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was able to get one hand on the ball, and it bounced off the post and back into the net for the game-winner.
“I always start on set pieces kind of far out so I don’t look like a threat,” said Kallman of the game-winner. “Then as Chicky was running to it, I just kind of took off towards her and then just cut to goal and got lucky.”
Cicchini’s assist was the fourth of the season for the Oakville, Ontario, native. The assist also moved the team’s season assist total to 47, a new school record.
The loss was the first at Jeffrey Field by Penn State in its last 22 games and the first NCAA home loss for the Nittany Lions since 2004 against Maryland.
“It was a hard-fought game and this Penn State team has had so much success at Jeffrey Field,” said head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We knew it was going to take something special to beat a team of Penn State’s caliber. We finally finished our opportunity and it was a great, great win.”
WVU’s front line of Ashley Banks, Kim Bonilla, Deana Everrett and Kiley Harris combined for 18 shots, two more than Penn State’s team total of 16. The Mountaineers finished with 25 shots, the 17th time this season WVU has registered 20 or more shots in a game.
The Mountaineers received outstanding play from all 12 participants, including goalkeeper Kerri Butler.
The freshmen was great coming off her line all day and made perhaps the biggest save of her young career in the second half. Trailing 10 in the 73rd minute, PSU’s Danielle Toney used her speed to get behind the Mountaineer defense. Butler charged off her line and made a diving save on the ball to stop the one-on-one opportunity.
West Virginia, which tied a school record for most wins in a season with 18, has never played a game in the month of December. The Mountaineers await the winner of tonight’s match between second-seed USC and third-seed Florida. No game time or location has been established.
“It feels great. I think as a coach, you’re always knowing and hoping that you get to go there,” said Izzo-Brown of advancing to the Elite Eight. “Especially for our seniors, to experience it themselves after all the hard work is very nice.
“It is a lot of being happy for them being seniors and being leaders for us. And for the rest of the team, this is something you’ll tell your grandchildren about and something that will be there for you. And it’s history in our program, so it feels good, it feels very good.”
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Krystle Kallman’s header in the 71st minute pushed fourth-seed West Virginia past top-seed Penn State (18-4-2), 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Jeffrey Field.
The win is the first-ever road victory in the NCAA tournament for WVU and moves the Mountaineers into the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in school history.
The Mountaineers (18-4-2) dominated play from the opening whistle, and a persistent offensive attack paid off on Kallman’s second goal of the season.
The only goal of the contest was set up by junior midfielder Amanda Cicchini, who was fouled from behind giving WVU a free kick from 30 yards out.
Cicchini also served the ball to Kallman, who headed the ball toward the top right corner of the net. Penn State goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was able to get one hand on the ball, and it bounced off the post and back into the net for the game-winner.
“I always start on set pieces kind of far out so I don’t look like a threat,” said Kallman of the game-winner. “Then as Chicky was running to it, I just kind of took off towards her and then just cut to goal and got lucky.”
Cicchini’s assist was the fourth of the season for the Oakville, Ontario, native. The assist also moved the team’s season assist total to 47, a new school record.
The loss was the first at Jeffrey Field by Penn State in its last 22 games and the first NCAA home loss for the Nittany Lions since 2004 against Maryland.
“It was a hard-fought game and this Penn State team has had so much success at Jeffrey Field,” said head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We knew it was going to take something special to beat a team of Penn State’s caliber. We finally finished our opportunity and it was a great, great win.”
WVU’s front line of Ashley Banks, Kim Bonilla, Deana Everrett and Kiley Harris combined for 18 shots, two more than Penn State’s team total of 16. The Mountaineers finished with 25 shots, the 17th time this season WVU has registered 20 or more shots in a game.
The Mountaineers received outstanding play from all 12 participants, including goalkeeper Kerri Butler.
The freshmen was great coming off her line all day and made perhaps the biggest save of her young career in the second half. Trailing 10 in the 73rd minute, PSU’s Danielle Toney used her speed to get behind the Mountaineer defense. Butler charged off her line and made a diving save on the ball to stop the one-on-one opportunity.
West Virginia, which tied a school record for most wins in a season with 18, has never played a game in the month of December. The Mountaineers await the winner of tonight’s match between second-seed USC and third-seed Florida. No game time or location has been established.
“It feels great. I think as a coach, you’re always knowing and hoping that you get to go there,” said Izzo-Brown of advancing to the Elite Eight. “Especially for our seniors, to experience it themselves after all the hard work is very nice.
“It is a lot of being happy for them being seniors and being leaders for us. And for the rest of the team, this is something you’ll tell your grandchildren about and something that will be there for you. And it’s history in our program, so it feels good, it feels very good.”
