6:00pm: Sportsline with Tony Caridi

Penn State breaks through in 80th minute to take opener

Penn State’s Kerry Abello (2) attacks during the 1-0 win over West Virginia on Friday night.

 

 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.  — A one-timer in the 80th minute by Shea Moyer gave No. 4 Penn State a 1-0 win over ninth-ranked West Virginia in their women’s soccer opener.

“One mistake cost us tonight,” said Nikki Izzo-Brown, whose Mountaineers (0-1) suffered their first season-opening loss since 2014. “I thought we were all over Penn State. Unfortunately, it’s a game about finishing. They finished their chance, and we didn’t.”

WVU finished with a 13-7 shot advantage and a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.

Alone at the top of the 18-yard box and with the ball at her feet, Moyer took the angle on the Mountaineer backline and sent a low shot past WVU junior goalkeeper Rylee Foster inside the far-left post.

Penn State goalkeeper Amanda Dennis made five saves, while Foster stopped three.

“It’s a great feeling, opening night on Jeffrey Field, against West Virginia and to come home with a 1-0 win,” Penn State coach Erica Dambach said. “I love the shutout. These guys took away our rhythm, West Virginia played their hearts out, but our team dug deep.”

 

Needing a goal in the final 4 minutes, Mountaineers freshman Addison Clark earned a chance outside the box. She sent a hard shot toward the goal line, but Dennis was there for the Nittany Lions (1-0).

The Mountaineers controlled the flow of the match early and nearly snagged a lead in the ninth minute. Sh’Nia Gordon took a pass wide and played with her defender inside the 12-yard box before firing a shot that pinged off the far-left post and back into play.





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