WVU women’s soccer doesn’t allow a shot in 2-0 win over Wright State
West Virginia University women’s soccer had an impressive defensive showing in a 2-0 victory over Wright State on Monday at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers (4-1) didn’t allow a shot or corner kick for the decisive victory following a huge 2-1 win over No. 1 Penn State on Saturday. WVU had 33 shots, including nine on goal, and earned 12 corners.
Monday’s accomplishment was the sixth time in program history that West Virginia has denied an opponent a shot. The last time WVU achieved the feat was in a 4-0 triumph over Longwood on Sept. 13, 2015.
The Raiders are the second team in three matches to not earn a corner kick against the WVU defense.
“We talked pregame about what we wanted to accomplish and how we wanted to grow as a team,” West Virginia coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “Having the capabilities to do this speaks volumes of the back line and what our defensive mentality has been.”
The Mountaineers scored 2:22 into the match when Michaela Abam scored her second goal of the season on a penalty kick.
Defender Amandine Pierre-Louis fittingly scored a goal for the West Virginia back line at 81:12 of the second when she was cashed in on a rebound off a penalty-kick opportunity.
“It’s very hard to have such an emotional win after beating the No. 1 team in the country and then coming back out and finding that same energy,” Izzo-Brown said. “I was proud of that. Obviously, I would have liked more goals, but Wright State played us tough tonight, and we were able to find two. Two wins this weekend — I’ll take it.”
Fairchance native and Albert Gallatin grad Hannah Abraham started a forward for the Mountaineers. The junior had two shots and played 53 minutes, which is her second-highest total this season.
West Virginia keeper Rylee Foster recorded most-likely the easiest clean sheet of her career, which moves to a total of 11. The sophomore has three shutouts in five matches this year.
The Mountaineers have moved up to No. 3 in the country after two victories this weekend.
WVU looks to continue its strong play when it hosts No. 13 Duke on Friday at 7 p.m. West Virginia knocked the Blue Devils out of the NCAA Tournament last season with a 2-1 triumph in the quarterfinals on Nov. 26 in Morgantown.