Women's Soccer: WVU Surrenders Late Goals
Chelsy Swackhamer netted the game-winner in the 73rd minute by re-directing a ball past WVU goalkeeper Sara Keane for a 1-0 lead. A Buckeye corner kick was played through the box, settled by Kiiri Kuld and served back into the middle where Swackhamer flicked it in from six yards out. “We actually played very well but have to finish our scoring chances,” said WVU coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “Give Ohio State credit for knocking one in and we didn’t.” The Buckeyes added an insurance goal in the final 24 seconds as Tiffany Cameron finished a breakaway in transition. Ohio State cleared a corner kick up the left side of the field to Megan Fuller who found a streaking Cameron in the middle for the one-on-one finish. The Mountaineers, who played a strong, possession-oriented match, created several scoring opportunities but came away empty. Forward Frances Silva nearly gave the Mountaineers an early lead in the eighth minute on a ball flicked up the middle from teammate Blake Miller. Miller’s header went beyond the Ohio State back line to create a one-on-one scoring try for Silva. Ohio State goalkeeper Katie Baumgardner stood her line and denied Silva’s shot on the ground. West Virginia held possession in its attacking third of the field for the majority of the opening 45 minutes. Miller caught Baumgardner off her line and sent a shot from outside the top of the box that sailed just high of the goal. Moments later, defender Meghan Lewis sent a header wide of the goal on WVU’s first corner kick of the night. WVU held a 14-11 shot advantage and owned a 6-4 corner kick edge. Miller and Silva paced the Mountaineers with three shots each. Ohio State found its offensive rhythm to begin the second half, pressuring the Mountaineer defense for the first time. Cameron worked the ball up the left flank and drove a ball across mouth of goal in the 50th minute with nobody forward to finish the service. A Buckeye corner kick in the 52nd minute led to a header by defender Lauren Granberg. Granberg’s header from eight yards out was denied by Keane at the near post. West Virginia countered at the 64:21 mark with a long-range attempt from midfielder Bri Rodriguez whose shot drifted just high of the goal. Baumgardner recorded four saves in picking up the shutout, including a big save in the 76th minute. West Virginia’s Silva sent a rocket toward the upper right corner with Baumgardner getting a hand on the ball and pushing it over the crossbar. Keane finished with three stops on the night, logging all 90 minutes between the posts. “It’s a learning process and championships aren’t won in September. They are won in November,” said Izzo-Brown. “We need to figure out how to finish games. And we’re close.” Ohio State moves to 4-1-0 on the season while West Virginia falls to 2-3-0. The setback snapped WVU’s 12-match unbeaten streak at home. WVU returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 4, for a 7:30 p.m. match against Marshall. Admission is free courtesy of United Bank. |
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