Soccer Lady ‘Cats shut out WVU Tech, 2-0

Wesleyan goalkeeper Laura Duncan (10) collides with defender Alicia Rees (2) while making one of her two saves Monday evening in the Lady Bobcats’ 2-0 win over West Virginia Tech. Also defending on the play is Lady Bobcat Heather Sanders (12). Photo by BRIAN BERGSTROM/The Record Delta

BUCKHANNON — It wasn’t pretty, but the West Virginia Wesleyan College women’s soccer team overcame a slow start offensively to eek out a 2-0 victory over the visiting Golden Bears of WVU Tech on Monday.

Despite dominating possession and out-shooting Tech 19-3, the Lady ‘Cats didn’t find the back of the net until the 62nd minute, when Aleisha Rees headed home a Emma Levin-Nielsen free kick to give Wesleyan a 1-0 lead.

Rees spent the game sharing the center midfielder position with Jade Smith in a bid by head coach Patrick Holguin to generate additional offense. Jessica Hong had a nice game moving into Rees’s traditional spot in the center of the defense along with Levin-Nielsen.

Rees was dominant in the midfield, winning 50-50 balls and pushing forward to lead the team with six shots, including four on goal.

Still, Tech had some chances, especially late, to even up a game that never should have been close. Forward Creshana Jones tested Wesleyan keeper Lauren Duncan for the first time all night with about 16 minutes left in the match, placing a hard shot at the near post. But Duncan punched the ball clear for a corner kick, preserving the shutout, her seventh of the season.

Kristi Dalton added some insurance in the 89th minute with a deflected shot that found the back of the net to put the Lady ‘Cats up 2-0. Tech responded immediately on the ensuing kickoff but were rebuffed by the Wesleyan defense and the final buzzer sounded with the scoreboard showing the final 2-0 margin.

The loss dropped WVU Tech to 2-9 on the season. Wesleyan (5-4-2) will face a much stiffer challenge when they head to Davis and Elkins to take on the unbeaten Lady Senators (8-0-1) this afternoon. They will then host Ohio Valley (1-8) Saturday at 7 p.m.



For the complete article see the 10-03-2012 issue.

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