Post by rainman on Nov 10, 2007 7:13:30 GMT -5
WVU to Finals
By Chris Marshall for MSNsportsNET.com
November 9, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Junior defender Robin Rushton’s first career goal with 1:51 left in double overtime, lifted No. 12 West Virginia to a 1-0 victory over No. 23 Louisville in the BIG EAST women’s soccer semifinals on a cold and blustery Friday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The opportunity came when a West Virginia corner kick was deflected out and Rushton gathered the ball outside of the 18 and sent a line drive passed Cardinal goalkeeper Joanna Haig and into the top left corner of the net.
“I just remember the ball popping out and I took a touch and thought ‘miss it’ because that is what we say in practice,” Rushton said. “Every time someone says ‘score it’ I hit it over. Every time they say ‘miss it’ I feel like there is no pressure on me. I just tried to keep it down and somehow it found the back of the net.”
The story for much of this match was of great defense by a Louisville team that has allowed just nine goals all season, and missed opportunities by West Virginia. After an even first half, the Mountaineers dominated play for the second half and both overtime periods, out shooting the Cardinals 21-8 over that stretch. WVU also had a 10-1 corner kick advantage in the match. The Mountaineers had a season-high 29 shots for the game.
Senior forward Kim Bonilla created a bevy of chances for the Mountaineers, taking four shots, and hitting the post in the first half. BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Ashley Banks also fired two quality shots in double overtime, the first sailing just wide and the second flying just above the crossbar.
The best chance however came just seconds before Rushton’s goal when junior forward Deanna Everrett got past Haig and appeared to have an open net to her left, when Louisville’s Meredith Tolley came out of nowhere to block the low shot.
“If you constantly put pressure on people mistakes are going to happen,” West Virginia Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “I was really proud of how we battled and created those chances.”
The West Virginia defense was outstanding all night, helping goalkeeper Kerri Butler win her sixth straight game. Butler made one save on the night as the defense pitched its 10th shutout of the year.
A season-high crowd of 974 braved the cold temperatures and constantly urged the Mountaineers on throughout the see-saw battle. It was the second highest crowd ever to see a women’s game at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
“This is the best crowd I ever faced in my 12 years here. They were unbelievable. It was a huge advantage for us,” Izzo-Brown said. “I’m hoping they come out again in huge numbers on Sunday.”
With the win, West Virginia (15-4-1, 9-1-1) advances to its third-ever BIG EAST tournament final and will play No. 12 Notre Dame (15-4-1, 11-0-0) on Sunday. The game is a rematch of the 2002 final that Notre Dame won 2-1.
Notre Dame has won three consecutive BIG EAST tournament titles. West Virginia will try to win its first.
“They have won two national championships. They are undefeated in the BIG EAST. They are a tournament team that is going to go deep but we want this and we’re going to do whatever we can to dig deep and battle,” Izzo-Brown said. “I have great respect for how they play soccer.”
Sunday afternoon’s kickoff from Dick Dlesk Stadium is set for noon. The match will be televised live on CSTV.
By Chris Marshall for MSNsportsNET.com
November 9, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Junior defender Robin Rushton’s first career goal with 1:51 left in double overtime, lifted No. 12 West Virginia to a 1-0 victory over No. 23 Louisville in the BIG EAST women’s soccer semifinals on a cold and blustery Friday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The opportunity came when a West Virginia corner kick was deflected out and Rushton gathered the ball outside of the 18 and sent a line drive passed Cardinal goalkeeper Joanna Haig and into the top left corner of the net.
“I just remember the ball popping out and I took a touch and thought ‘miss it’ because that is what we say in practice,” Rushton said. “Every time someone says ‘score it’ I hit it over. Every time they say ‘miss it’ I feel like there is no pressure on me. I just tried to keep it down and somehow it found the back of the net.”
The story for much of this match was of great defense by a Louisville team that has allowed just nine goals all season, and missed opportunities by West Virginia. After an even first half, the Mountaineers dominated play for the second half and both overtime periods, out shooting the Cardinals 21-8 over that stretch. WVU also had a 10-1 corner kick advantage in the match. The Mountaineers had a season-high 29 shots for the game.
Senior forward Kim Bonilla created a bevy of chances for the Mountaineers, taking four shots, and hitting the post in the first half. BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Ashley Banks also fired two quality shots in double overtime, the first sailing just wide and the second flying just above the crossbar.
The best chance however came just seconds before Rushton’s goal when junior forward Deanna Everrett got past Haig and appeared to have an open net to her left, when Louisville’s Meredith Tolley came out of nowhere to block the low shot.
“If you constantly put pressure on people mistakes are going to happen,” West Virginia Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “I was really proud of how we battled and created those chances.”
The West Virginia defense was outstanding all night, helping goalkeeper Kerri Butler win her sixth straight game. Butler made one save on the night as the defense pitched its 10th shutout of the year.
A season-high crowd of 974 braved the cold temperatures and constantly urged the Mountaineers on throughout the see-saw battle. It was the second highest crowd ever to see a women’s game at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
“This is the best crowd I ever faced in my 12 years here. They were unbelievable. It was a huge advantage for us,” Izzo-Brown said. “I’m hoping they come out again in huge numbers on Sunday.”
With the win, West Virginia (15-4-1, 9-1-1) advances to its third-ever BIG EAST tournament final and will play No. 12 Notre Dame (15-4-1, 11-0-0) on Sunday. The game is a rematch of the 2002 final that Notre Dame won 2-1.
Notre Dame has won three consecutive BIG EAST tournament titles. West Virginia will try to win its first.
“They have won two national championships. They are undefeated in the BIG EAST. They are a tournament team that is going to go deep but we want this and we’re going to do whatever we can to dig deep and battle,” Izzo-Brown said. “I have great respect for how they play soccer.”
Sunday afternoon’s kickoff from Dick Dlesk Stadium is set for noon. The match will be televised live on CSTV.
