MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore Michaela Abam was in the right place at the right time, pouncing on a rebound in the 82nd minute to score the game-winner as No. 3 West Virginia edged TCU 2-1 in women’s soccer action.
The Houston native’s team-high eighth goal of the season extended the Mountaineers’ win streak to 10, four short of the program record. West Virginia (11-1, 2-0) stretched its unbeaten streak in conference games at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium to 28 games.
Despite a 22-3 deficit in shots, the Horned Frogs (8-5, 2-1) were even until Abram scored past the outstretched hands of TCU goalkeeper Shannon Coffer.
Senior defender Maggie Bedillion took the initial shot around a TCU defender near the top of the box. While Coffer stopped that one, she failed to control the ball, giving a charging Abam the chance.
“Michaela hit every part of post on her shots tonight, so it was great that she was finally able to finish that goal,” said Mountaineers coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We had so many opportunities that we weren’t able to finish tonight. The game of soccer is cruel. The one good look TCU had tonight, they finished, and I give them credit for that. It’s just frustrating when you continue to create chances but can’t put the ball in the back of the net.”
The Mountaineers held a 7-0 edge in corner kicks, the fourth time this season an opponent was denied a corner.
Senior Hannah Steadman made two saves in the win, while Coffer finished with seven, including a jumping pushout on a shot from Carla Portillo in the 84th minute that nearly gave WVU a two-goal advantage.
TCU’s score was the first goal allowed by WVU since Aug. 23 and snapped the team’s record nine-match shutout streak.
Midfielder Ashley Lawrence tallied WVU’s first score 62 seconds into the match, the second-fastest goal in program history. Leah Emaus sent the ball into the box, and after bouncing around the feet of three TCU defenders, it finally trickled toward Lawrence at the right post. She bent easily found the far left post for her fourth goal of the season.
TCU’s Emma Heckendorn halted WVU’s shutout streak in the 27th minute, as she received a through ball from Michelle Prokof near the top of the box and beating Steadman one-on-one.
Tied at halftime for only the fifth time this season, WVU controlled the game in the second half, taking11 shots to TCU’s one and earning five corner kicks.
Abam nearly scored the go-ahead goal in the 61st minute, but her running flick in front of the net was blocked by Coffer.
The Horned Frogs had their own chance two minutes later. McKenzie Oliver took a shot outside the penalty-kick line off a through ball, but Steadman made the easy catch save.
Abam finished with a game-best five shots, two on-goal. Lawrence and junior defender Kadeisha Buchanan finished with three shots each.
In the Mountaineers’ annual “Pink Match,” the team donated $8,647 this year to Morgantown’s Betty Puskar Breast Care Center.
WVU returns to the road next week for a pair of Big 12 contests, visiting Oklahoma on Friday and No. 16 Texas Tech on Sunday.