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After Fri OT Winner, No. 1 @WVUWomensSoccer Faces UCLA

From WVU Athletic Department report
On Friday, the Number one ranked West Virginia women’s soccer team needed an overtime win over Ohio State University to advance to the third round of the Division I Women’s NCAA Tournament
Here’s Friday’s winning goal coming off the foot of Michaela Abam…

Following an exhilarating, extra-time win in the second round, the No. 1-ranked and top-seeded West Virginia University women’s soccer team will meet No. 14-ranked and fourth-seeded UCLA in the third round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 2:30 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

 

Tickets are on sale now at WVUGAME.com and also will be available at the DDSS Ticket Office. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students and youths under the age of 13, and $2 for groups of 10 or more. Group tickets will only be available in advance and not at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium gate on game day. WVU students are admitted free with a valid WVU Student I.D.

 

Parking will be extremely limited at the WVU Coliseum on Sunday, as the men’s basketball team tips against New Hampshire at 1 p.m. All men’s basketball season parking passes will be honored, and single-game parking for the basketball game will be available for $10 at the Rose Lot, near the WVU Natatorium.

 

Fans wishing to attend the soccer game who arrive at 1:30 p.m. or later may park free of charge in spaces available as directed by WVU parking attendants. Any fan who arrives prior to 1:30 p.m. will be charged $10 and must park in the Rose Lot. Additionally, all RV parking from the football game on Saturday vs. Oklahoma must be cleared from the Coliseum RV parking areas by 9 a.m. Sunday.

 

Links for live stats and a free video stream are available at WVUsports.com.

 

The winner Sunday will meet the winner of No. 2-seed Duke-Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals on Nov. 25 or Nov. 26. The highest seed still standing will play host to the match.

 

The Mountaineers (21-1-1, 8-0) ride a program-record 14 match win streak into Sunday and are the nation’s winningest team with a 93.5 win percentage.

 

WVU advances to the third round following a 1-0, double-overtime win against Ohio State on Nov. 18. Sunday is the team’s second straight third-round appearance and fifth in program history. WVU has advanced to the fourth round twice in 21 years, including a trip last season.

 

WVU and UCLA (15-5-1, 7-3-1 Pac-12) meet for the first time Sunday. The Bruins earned a 2-0 win over Nebraska on Friday night, also in Morgantown.

 

“The Bruins are a very dynamic, attacking-minded team,” Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “They are a team with many dynamic players, including freshman forward Jessie Flemming. There are players in their attack which will cause us problems.

 

“We have to bring our best soccer Sunday to beat a team like UCLA. We need to all be on the same page, and everyone needs to stay in her role and play West Virginia soccer.”

 

The Mountaineers’ clean sheet against the Buckeyes was their program-record 16th of the season. WVU has allowed just eight opponent goals all season, with only two scores coming in the last 13 matches.

 

Junior forward Michaela Abam tallied the golden goal against OSU in the 104th minute and paces WVU with 29 points (11 G, 7 A). She needs one more score to match her career single-season high of 12.

 

UCLA has scored 41 goals on the year and allowed 21 for a 0.97 goals-against average. Freshman Teagan Micah has played all 21 matches between the posts and made 84 saves.

 

Flemming paces with 25 points (10 G, 5 A). A starter for the Canadian National Team, she played alongside Mountaineer seniors Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games.

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

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