Women's Soccer: Mischler Nets Game-Winner

By Tim Goodenow for WVUsports.com
October 10, 2010 03:37 PM

Mischler

QUEENS N.Y. – Mountaineer forward Megan Mischler continued her dominant play in BIG EAST Conference action, netting the game-winner in the 92nd minute to lead West Virginia past St. John’s, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Belson Stadium in Queens, N.Y.

A Moon Township, Pa., native, Mischler has scored goals in four-straight matches, including game-winning scores in each of WVU’s last three contests. Today’s goal was her team-leading sixth of the season.

At the 91:24 mark, Mischler received a pass inside the box from midfielder Bri Rodriguez. The senior quickly turned and slotted a ball on the ground, rolling inside the left post for the only score of the match. The assist was Rodriguez’s team-leading fifth of the season.

“I’m really happy for Mischler to be coming on strong here at the end (of the season),” said coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “She is putting all the effort in to being a difference maker and her hard work is paying off with goals. We had several chances to put the game away but it was Mischler who found the back of the net.”

After a sluggish opening half in which West Virginia allowed three shots in the first 10 minutes, the Mountaineers were dominant in the second half and overtime. The WVU offense finished with an 18-7 edge in shots and held an 8-1 corner kick advantage.

WVU came out aggressive to start second half with forward Frances Silva taking two shots in the first minute and a half. She continued her strong play up front, striking a ball hard towards the far post with St. John’s goalkeeper Kristin Russell making a diving stop to keep the contest scoreless at the 56:12 mark.

Silva and teammate Blake Miller each collected a game-high four shots on the afternoon.

St. John’s was paced by Jen Leaverton’s three shots, including a shot that dinged off the post in the ninth minute. Leaverton’s shot from 14 yards out was the Red Storm’s best look of the first half.

WVU senior goalkeeper Kerri Butler worked all 90 minutes in picking up her eighth shutout of the season. Butler and her back line have allowed only one goal in the last six matches.

“Kerri was good today in talking to our back line and helping the defense pick up another shutout,” said Izzo-Brown. “There were a lot of elements to adjust to in going from grass to turf, to wind – it was a collective defensive effort today.”

Russell made five saves between the posts for St. John’s.

Midfielder Ashtin Larkin had West Virginia’s best look in the first half. With a defender on her inside shoulder, Larkin blasted a shot from outside the top of the box that drifted just wide of the goal at the 30:06 mark.

West Virginia picked up its play midway through the opening period and closed strong as Rodriguez took back-to-back shots in the 40th and 42nd minutes, the second attempt a header, sent high off a Morgan Betscher cross.

In the 75th minute, the Mountaineers put together two shots in a scramble in front of the net. Defender Erica Henderson took a shot at the mouth of the goal off a corner kick, only to be stopped by a save fro m Russell. Silva followed with a shot that went wide on an attempt towards far corner of the goal.

“That kid works so hard to put herself in dangerous positions,” said Izzo-Brown. “She just can’t put that ball into the back of the net. But she’s close. It’s going to come very soon.”

The Mountaineers extended their unbeaten streak to six matches (5-0-1) to push their record to 9-4-1 (5-1-1 BIG EAST) while the Red Storm moves to 5-8-1 (2-5-0 BIG EAST).

WVU is 10-2-3 all-time against the Red Storm and St. John’s has not scored a goal against the Mountaineers in its last six outings.

The Mountaineers have won back-to-back overtime games for the first time since 2001.

West Virginia closes out the regular season with four home matches at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Mountaineers welcome BIG EAST foe Villanova on Friday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. WVU’s match with the Wildcats is also a “Dollar Night” with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas available for purchase for just one dollar.