Aug. 29, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-The No. 8/5 Penn State women's soccer team fell to No. 14/17 West Virginia, 2-1, on Saturday night at Jeffrey Field. Katie Schoepfer's goal tied the game at one, but the Mountaineers answered with a 58th minute strike to take the match.
WVU's Blake Miller took a deflected pass, which went off PSU's Melissa Hayes and dribbled down the center of the park and hit a laser of a shot that found its way into the back of the net in the 58th minute to give the Mountaineers the upset win. Penn State couldn't find another equalizer despite several opportunities on net, including a furious collection of plays that saw Schoepfer hit the crossbar and Christine Nairn's shot saved on the goal line.
West Virginia (1-0-1) came out firing early and found the back of the net on a goal by Megan Mischler off a Blake Miller cross. Mischler was able to poke the ball past PSU goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (three saves) on the near post for an early 1-0 lead 11:36 into the game.
Penn State (1-1-0) dominated play after that, creating multiple opportunities including a rocket of a shot from Schoepfer from just 10 yards out that found the outside netting.
Schoepfer would capitalize on her next opportunity when she received a pass from Danielle Toney near the top of the penalty area. Schoepfer made a clever cut to her left foot and snuck the ball into the right-side of the net past Kerri Butler (five saves) for the equalizer just over 12 minutes from the half-time whistle.
With the game tied at the half, Penn State pressed onward and controlled much of the first ten minutes of the second half. The addition of Nikki Watts to the rotation helped give the Nittany Lions and added spark on the right wing, creating two notable scoring chances in the goal area, including the combination play of Schoepfer and Nairn. The other chance came when Watts fired a shot just wide of the net from a step outside of the 18-yard area.
With the game 2-1, Danielle Toney (three shots on goal), received a beautiful ball inside the penalty area, but Erica Henderson knocked her off the ball, with Toney asking for a call, but to no avail.
Penn State out-shot West Virginia 14-12 for the game, but WVU's Butler was the difference in net. Both teams garnered just one corner kick, while the Nittany Lions had one offsides call.
PSU returns to Jeffrey Field for the second day of the Penn State Invitational to take on UConn at 2:30 p.m. on Monday. West Virginia plays BYU, 1-0 winners over Connecticut, in the first half of the doubleheader at noon.
For complete coverage of all the Nittany Lion soccer this season, go to www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PSUWomensSoccer.
--NITTANY LIONS--